KDI Raises Alarm Over Violence, Distrust Ahead of Anambra Poll

KDI Raises Alarm Over Violence, Distrust Ahead of Anambra Poll

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has raised serious concerns over the November 2025 Anambra governorship election, warning that political violence, security gaps, unemployment, and growing distrust in electoral institutions could undermine the credibility of the poll.

The warning was contained in KDI’s Pre-Election Security Risk Assessment Report launched in Abuja, which identified 17 out of the state’s 21 local government areas as high-risk. Top among them are Ihiala, Aguata, Awka South, Ogbaru, and Onitsha North and South.

KDI is a non-governmental, non-partisan organisation committed to promoting democracy, good governance, and civic participation across Nigeria. The group is known for its evidence-based research, early warning assessments, and advocacy aimed at strengthening electoral processes and preventing violence.

Presenting the report, KDI’s Team Lead, Bukola Idowu, said the findings showed that Anambra is at risk of electoral violence due to political rivalries, youth restiveness, weak institutional preparedness, and lingering public mistrust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.

He stressed that for the state to hold a peaceful and credible poll, both systemic and localised vulnerabilities must be urgently addressed.

According to him, “our assessment revealed hotspots where the likelihood of violence, vote buying, and intimidation is very high. If not mitigated, these could threaten voter participation and the credibility of the electoral process.”

The report recommended measures such as pre-election operational drills for INEC, stronger training for ad-hoc staff, transparent communication on logistics, and special monitoring in high-risk LGAs.

It also urged political parties to sign and respect codes of conduct, while security agencies were advised to deploy personnel proportionate to risk levels and improve rapid-response capacity.

Beyond security, KDI warned that high youth unemployment could make young people vulnerable to exploitation by politicians for thuggery and vote trading. The organisation therefore called for civic engagement programmes, skill acquisition schemes, and voter education to counter inducement and political manipulation.

On gender risks, the report flagged the likelihood of harassment and intimidation of women voters, party agents, and candidates.

It recommended gender-sensitive monitoring, deployment of female security personnel, and targeted civic education campaigns to encourage women’s participation.

It further noted the dangers of media bias and misinformation, calling for partnerships with media outlets, civil society, and digital platforms to run verified election information campaigns and debunk fake news in real time.

Speaking at the launch, Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Y. Z. Ya’u, praised the report as an excellent and useful contribution to election preparedness.

He emphasised that risk assessments were vital for anticipating challenges and developing strategies to prevent violence and logistical failures.

Deputy Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Omolara Akinyeye, also commended KDI, noting that early warning signals would help observers, security agencies, and electoral officials prepare better.

In his goodwill message, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Block Lead for Government and Stability, William Robinson, described the assessment as “timely and vital,” adding that democracy required vigilance, collaboration, and courage.

“By identifying risks and offering practical recommendations, civil society can play a critical role in promoting transparency, reducing violence, and fostering public trust,” he said.

With less than two months to the election, stakeholders are expected to act swiftly on the recommendations. KDI stressed that failure to do so could leave Anambra vulnerable to violence, voter apathy, and a disputed outcome that could further deepen public mistrust in the electoral process.