All eyes is on Anambra State today as the people of the state goes to the polls to elect a governor. The election has already gone into the record books with the highest number of governorship candidates in Nigeria’s electoral history with 37.
The leading contenders are incumbent Willie Obiano of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), who is seeking a second term; Tony Nwoye of the All Progressives Congress, Osita Chidoka is contesting under the banner of the United Progressives Party, Oseloka Obaze, Peoples Democratic Party and Godwin Eseemo of Progressives Peoples’ Alliance.
The election is taking place under the shadow of threat from the secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. To counter IPOB threats of unleashing mayhem and disrupting the election, the police have deployed 26,000 personnel for the election, the Civil Defence have deployed 13,000 personnel according to officials. The police deployment comprise police special forces, police mobile forces, Counter Terrorism Units and Bomb Protection Units.
Others are bomb disposal specialists, as well as sniffer and attack dogs. Surveillance helicopters will monitor proceedings from the air, while there will be gunboats on the river Niger, plus 15 armoured personnel carriers and 303 patrol vehicles. The Army and Navy are also believed to have deployed personnel to ensure smooth and peaceful election.
All the major contenders emerged from the realignment of people from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to analysts, there’s no favourite as the candidates are evenly marched. Factors that might influence the outcome includes IPOB effect, zoning, godfatherism, political vendetta and the church, which will pitch the Catholic against the Anglican
