The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken decision on incoming Anambra governorship election over persistent killings in the state.
INEC said the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State will go on as planned despite the rising cases of killings attacks by unknown gunmen in the region.
There have been fears that the activities of Gunmen suspected to be Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the state may hinder the conduct of the election
Anambra State has continued to record widespread of violence, killings in the buildup to the November governorship election.
Politicians had reportedly went into hiding and suspended campaigns as a result of the chaos in the state.
The headquarters of INEC in the state had also been razed.
DAILY GIST earlier reported that some Gunmen attacked and burnt down the police and the Department of State Services headquarters in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Unspecified number of people were said to have been killed during the attack while several others were injured according to reports
Gunmen had also attacked the convoy of a federal lawmaker representing the state, Chris Emeka Azubogu.
A police officer and the driver of the lawmaker were killed while a police station was set on fire.
Azubogu, who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) few hours before the incident, was not in the convoy when the assailant struck.
Two days before the attack, seven persons, including, Dr Chike Akunyili, widower of Dr Dora Akunyili, former Director-General of the National Agency for Food Administration and Drug Control (NAFDAC), were murdered in broad daylight by unknown gunmen
Dethroned traditional ruler of Mkpunando Aguleri, Alex Edozieuno, was murdered weeks before the killing of Akunyili.
Edozieuno was killed along Ezu Bridge, Otuocha in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra.
Andy Uba, governorship candidate of the APC in Anambra, on Saturday suspended the flag-off of his campaign due to the killings.
The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been on rampage not just in Anambra but across the South East.
Its however not clear if the killings in Anambra have political undertone or IPOB is actually behind them.
Speaking at a meeting, the electoral commission said the date of the gubernatorial election in Anambra state remains sacrosanct.
When asked if the attacks posed a threat to the governorship election, Festus Okoye, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, said the commission is making serious preparation and will proceed with the exercise.
He added that in few days, INEC will deliver non-sensitive materials that will be used for the election.
“As far as the commission is concerned, we are proceeding with the election. We are seriously preparing for the exercise. In the next few days, we are going to deliver the non-sensitive materials meant for the election. So, preparation is on top gear on the part of INEC and we are going ahead with the election”
Also speaking at the meeting, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, assured that the election will not be postponed even though the stated goal of many of the assailants is that the governorship election scheduled for 6 November 2021 must not hold in the state
