Political Rivalry, Insecurity Threaten Anambra Governorship Election – KDI Report

The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has warned that the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State faces serious threats from political rivalry, insecurity, and widespread distrust in state institutions. The warning was contained in a report titled *The Early Warning: Assessing Pre-election Security Risk Ahead of the 2025 Anambra Off-cycle Governorship Election*, released in Abuja on Friday after a two-month security risk assessment across the state’s 21 local government areas.

The report, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, highlighted concerns that the credibility and safety of the election could be undermined if urgent steps are not taken. It identified political violence as a persistent threat, pointing to Anambra’s history of election-related unrest and the lingering distrust it has created among voters.

KDI noted that violence in the state has intensified beyond electoral cycles compared to 2021, with community disputes and targeted attacks worsening the security environment. The report warned that increasing personal rivalries among political actors and public distrust in security agencies could inflame tensions during the campaign season. It also highlighted underlying identity-based grievances, fragile media spaces prone to misinformation, and INEC’s perceived credibility challenges as additional risks.

Ihiala and Aguata were classified as the highest-risk LGAs, while Awka South, Onitsha North, Ogbaru and Idemili North were flagged as high-risk areas. The report linked declining voter turnout in Anambra—from 21 percent in 2017 to 10.3 percent in 2021—to insecurity and separatist threats, cautioning that fear and apathy could again suppress participation in 2025.

To mitigate the risks, KDI urged INEC to rebuild public confidence through greater transparency in voter card distribution and improved communication. It called on political parties to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and respect codes of conduct, while advising security agencies to strengthen deployments in high-risk LGAs and establish rapid response mechanisms. The report also recommended engaging unemployed youth to reduce susceptibility to vote-buying, adopting gender-sensitive measures to protect women, and countering misinformation through verified information campaigns and community peacebuilding initiatives.