The Anambraa State Police Command says it is ready for the off-cycle Anambra governorship election that will take place on November 8, 2025.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated this during a “Forum on Enhanced Reportage, Inclusivity and Accountability of Stakeholders Towards Anambra Guber Poll” organised by the International Press Centre, IPC, and Centre For Media and Society, CEMESO; as part of their ongoing efforts to promote inclusive and participatory electoral process for the forthcoming Anambra governorship election.
The engagement for selected journalists drawn from the broadcast, print and online media organizations is part of the Support-to-Media Component of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance (EU-SDGN)Phase 11 Programme.
DSP Ikenga, while assuring that with the collaboration of the sister security agencies in Anambra, they are prepared to ensure a peaceful election, commended journalists in the state for their professionalism and cautioned against sensational reportage.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, CEMESO, Dr Akin Akingbulu, explained that the goal of the media engagement is to prepare journalists ahead of the guber election, guiding them to renew conversation between political leaders and the electorates, ensuring that their reportage is within the ethics of journalism, and deepening electoral integrity.
The Executive Director, IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, pointed out that the training is a clarion call on stakeholders not to amplify past experiences which led to electoral violence, but for all concerned to collectively agree that as they move towards the Anambra election, that public interest will be the overriding interest, and political parties and security agencies ensuring they play their roles to ensure the election is free, fair and credible.
Others who spoke during the training were the representative of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence,SC Edwin Okadigbo, Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations,Anambra State Chapter, Professor Angela Nwammuo,Dr.Njideka Ezeonyejiaku of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka, as well as brainstorming and interactive sessions with participants.
