By CHARLES IWUOHA

A socio-political group, the Igbo Political Network (IPN) said it has mobilized and deployed over 5000 independent observers (IOs) to monitor and report any act of irregularities on the Saturday, November 8, 2025 Anambra State Governorship election.

It said the forthcoming Governorship polls in Anambra State remained a historical political event in the South-East region, adding it would be fool-hardy for relevant authorities and critical stakeholders to treat it with a wave of the hand in the interest of a particular candidate.

"All eyes are on Anambra State come November 8, 2025. This election remains epochal in the state and the entire Igbo land. The political leaders from Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo State are interested in this very election because it's seen as a major test on our political history as a people. And all hands must be on deck to make it a free and fair exercise, hence the reason why we are deploying our observers to monitor the election."

President of the Igbo Political Network (IPN), Chief Alex Okemiri stated this in Abakaliki, on Tuesday, saying the Igbos must rise to shun every form of intimidation and marginalization in their own affairs.

He said, "I'm Chief Alex Okemiri, the President of the Igbo Political Network (IPN). Actually, all of us at the Igbo Political Network (IPN) have been making sure the interest of Igbos both politically and economically is protected. Since 2015, we have ensured that the Igbos conduct their political activities and ethos fairly to better their lots. We are known for peace and political level-playing field in Igbo land.

"We gave also ensured votes in Igbo land count, that political thuggery is eradicated and politicians (candidates) conduct their activities accordingly without the whims and caprices of external political manipulators. We have not left any stone unturned to ensure voters cast their votes and go about doing so peacefully.

"However, we also noticed that to do this all hands must be on deck -- politicians, security agencies, electoral officers should work to ensure a level-playing field and a peaceful atmosphere. This is why we have mobilized over 5000 independent observers for the Anambra Governorship election come November 8. The idea is to make sure that the outcome of the election represents the will of the people as against widespread insinuations that the South-East region is known for political violence.

"Someone asked me to explain where I got the resources to mobilize these independent observers considering the huge resources for accomodation, transportation and other logistics. In my reply, I said yes we are aware the economy is biting. But we need to do the needful from our individual confers to do this considering the premium that Ndigbo attach to the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship election. The election is key for our people."

Okemiri gave a marching order to the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to shun favoritism and ensure that all votes count in the election.

According to him, the forthcoming polls signed-posted an integrity test on the national assignment entrusted into his hands by Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging the new INEC boss to live above board.

He said, "We call on the new INEC Chairman to live above board. We call on him to do his best to ensure the Anambra State Governorship election, which is just around the corner is free and fair. He should do everything within his power to ensure the people's votes count.

"We want to remind him that this is his first primary national assignment and that the eyes of the world are on him. We want to remind him also that Ndigbo are all interested in this very election and want to see how the winner and loser emerge.

"We urge the new INEC Chairman to be honest, unbiased and transparent in his conducts as regards the forthcoming election. He should know that Nigerians are already on the edge to unleash their anger on perpetrators of any political corruption. He should also know that Ndigbo are not currently happy with the scheme of things in the country and , it's important he avoids any act capable of inflaming the anger or violence in the land."

He also appealed to all security agencies to conduct themselves professionally and ethically amid high expectations in the forthcoming polls, adding the group was ready to halt every act of vote-buying and intimidation during the exercise.

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