AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE — The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), a leading election monitoring and policy advocacy group, has expressed significant concern over key issues threatening the integrity and credibility of the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State. The concerns, highlighted in recent reports and briefings, revolve primarily around the pervasive issues of vote buying, political violence, and the dangerous spread of disinformation.¹

💸 Vote Buying and the Commercialisation of Votes

A major point of concern for the CDD is the persistent and brazen practice of vote buying and selling.² Senior Fellow at the CDD, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, has pointed out that the commercialisation of votes undermines the fundamental democratic principle of a free and fair election.³

• Erosion of Choice: The group warns that when voters' choices are determined solely by financial inducement, the electorate is unable to select the most competent or deserving candidate, thereby subverting good governance.⁴

• Call for Enforcement: CDD has urged security agencies to strictly enforce the law against vote buying, describing the practice as a criminal offense that must be dealt with severely to restore integrity to the process.⁵

🛡️ Security Concerns and Voter Apathy

The CDD also noted that the overall security environment in Anambra remains a significant risk factor, directly impacting voter participation and the integrity of the poll.

• Persistent Violence: The state continues to grapple with complex security challenges, including the activities of secessionist groups and "unknown gunmen," which have historically created a hostile environment for elections.⁶ This climate of fear is a key driver of low voter turnout.

• Militarisation and Intimidation: The deployment of a massive number of security personnel, while intended to curb violence, can sometimes be counterproductive, with reports suggesting that the militarisation of the process can equally intimidate voters and contribute to apathy.

🌐 The Threat of Information Disorder

In an analysis of the pre-election information environment, CDD-West Africa identified disinformation and misinformation as critical threats to electoral stability.⁷

• Fueling Polarization: The report found prominent narratives being spread to exploit existing tensions, including religious framing that plays on Anglican-Catholic divides and narratives that attack the impartiality of security agencies and INEC.⁸

• Driving Apathy: The widespread circulation of false information often leads to the belief that "the result is already fixed," feeding voter apathy and discouraging participation, especially among youth.⁹

• Targeting Women: The CDD highlighted specific concerns over gendered smear campaigns and reputational attacks aimed at pushing women out of the political sphere, despite an increasing number of women in state governance.¹⁰

📢 CDD's Recommendations

To mitigate these risks and safeguard the democratic process in Anambra, the CDD has called for urgent action from stakeholders:

The CDD maintains that without coordinated efforts to address the triple threat of vote buying, insecurity, and information disorder, the integrity of the Anambra election—a key barometer of Nigeria's democratic resilience—will be significantly undermined.