By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for their roles in ensuring a credible and peaceful election in the just-concluded Anambra governorship poll.

The Leader of the group, Mr Chukwuma Okenwa, gave the commendation in Enugu while reacting to the outcome of the November 6, 2021 Anambra governorship poll concluded Wednesday morning in Awka.

Okenwa noted that the turnout at the poll was indeed a consolation for all that witnessed tensions, agitations and aggression in the build-up to the poll.

According to him, by now, the naysayers must have been utterly disappointed over the positive outcome of the poll.

Okenwa also lauded INEC for the deployment of the Bi-modal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) technology.

“Though there were challenges, it was however worth the wait,” he said, adding: “The forum commends INEC for its sensitivity and display of intelligence in the extension of the timing of the poll when it became necessary.

“The forum charges INEC to build on the gains of the just-concluded poll to position itself towards delivering excellence in the 2023 General Elections.”

Okenwa also praised the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Baba, and the heads of other sister security agencies for helping to ensure peace during the poll.

“The success story would not have been complete if enough tactics was not on ground to forestall pre-election and election violence,” he said.

He urged security agencies working in the state to be pro-active in ensuring that the peace enjoyed during the pre-election and election proper would not be marred by post-election violence.

Okenwa also charged the IGP and heads of other security agencies to re-jig their electoral security strategies to pro-actively contain incidences of avoidable electoral violence.

“Security is best when it is proactive and not reactive,” he added.

It would be recalled that INEC, early on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, declared Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), winner of the Nov. 6, 2021 Anambra Governorship Poll.