EU deploys 687 observers for Anambra governorship election

The European Union has mobilized 687 observers to monitor the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State this Saturday.

This initiative is part of the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme, which aims to bolster the democratic process by supporting peacebuilding, promoting gender and disability inclusion, combating misinformation, and enhancing public trust.

According to a statement released in Abuja, seven of the programme’s 16 partner organizations are already stationed in Anambra. These include The Kukah Centre, Yiaga Africa, the International Press Centre (IPC), the Centre for Media and Society, the Nigeria Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER, and TAF Africa.

The EU described this as one of the most extensive civil society-led observer missions for a state-level election in Nigeria.

The observers will work in coordinated teams focusing on several key areas: election integrity and results verification, disability inclusion (with trained observers and sign language interpreters), monitoring gender participation, tracking media and misinformation, peacebuilding, and overseeing polling logistics.

The unified deployment is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the election by combining the diverse expertise of its partners. Their findings will be compiled into a public report for all stakeholders.

In a related move earlier this week, the EU-SDGN programme facilitated the signing of an Anambra Election Peace Accord by all candidates and political parties.

The observer cohort emphasized that signing the accord is just the beginning, urging candidates to “act peacefully and respect the will of the voters.”

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed its full readiness for the poll. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, stated that approximately 24,000 ad hoc staff will be deployed and about 540 journalists have been accredited to cover the election across the state’s 5,718 polling units.

A total of 16 candidates from different parties are contesting the election, including the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who is seeking re-election.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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