President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Anambra chapter, Maazi Chukwuma Okpalaezukwu, has called on the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to use the ongoing Anambra governorship election to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
Speaking in Awka after a meeting of the state executive council, Okpalaezukwu said the exercise offers INEC a chance to prove that Nigerians’ votes can truly count. He noted that the body had reviewed pre-election activities and expressed satisfaction with INEC’s preparations so far.
He added that Ohanaeze would operate a situation room to monitor developments across the state, ensuring transparency and adherence to due process throughout the poll.
“Campaigns have ended peacefully, and we commend political parties for respecting the rules,” Okpalaezukwu said. “The next expectation is for INEC to deliver—starting from timely distribution of materials to ensuring that results reflect the people’s will.”
He stressed that Nigerians’ confidence in the commission had waned over time but expressed optimism that the new chairman’s leadership could rebuild trust.
According to him, INEC must ensure that its digital systems, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Result Viewing Portal (IReV), function efficiently to prevent network failures that marred previous exercises.
Okpalaezukwu also observed the heavy security presence across Anambra and described it as a reassuring sign of preparedness. He said Ohanaeze had conducted sensitisation campaigns to discourage voter apathy and expected a strong turnout across the state.
