WRITTEN BY EJIKE ANYADUBA
There is no doubt that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken effective care to ensure that Anambra State witnesses a free and fair election tomorrow.

Nothing will be more gratifying than this realization. It is hoped that the present crop of INEC leadership, headed by Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, is coming to the state as an unbiased umpire to change the perception that election results do not always reflect the wishes of the electorate. The world prays that Anambra election will not be a confirmation of this perception. This is because we know how diminished a people can be each time their collective aspiration is made of no importance. It vacuums them of hope, and can set them on a path of destruction.

Tomorrow’s election therefore offers INEC a chance to write its name in gold – an opportunity to undo the wrongs of the past. Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the erstwhile boss of INEC, is remembered today with fondness by majority of Nigerians, not because he plied his pedagogy in the political science department of many a Nigerian university. Not at all! He is remembered because he dared to be different and conducted what has come to be known as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria. The opportunity is here with INEC. It should seize it and act in good conscience.

No one should be allowed to stultify genuine efforts to have an equitable election. Ndi Anambra can distinguish between the command of God and the threat of man. Rational thinkers get worried when reference was made to the Edo governorship election. Till date, a lot of people are not enamoured of the conduct and will be loath to have it repeated elsewhere. It may be argued that the election was equitable, at least, to the extent that the Supreme Court affirmed it. However, no argument captured the damage done to the psyche of Nigerians who had thought the new leadership of INEC was different from what it had been. It is our prayer that Anambra should be spared that type of election.

As a rule, Anambra is a pleasant state to govern. The people have no great expectations from government. They are sufficient onto themselves and can, on occasion, stand in for government. The state occupies a foremost position in Igbo land because of her unique potentials. It is not without reason that elections in the state are treated with great care.

Anambra voters are sophisticated and do not need encouragement to accept or reject a leader as they deem wise. However, if deprived the right of choice, they can prove most intractable. The state can make noise enough to get the nation worried. We are not unaware of how important a peaceful Anambra State is to Nigeria and vice versa. It will be wrong to task the peace by doing anything untoward during the election. A challenged governorship election in Anambra may worsen the volatile peace in the country. For this, our dear INEC should resist every attempt to subvert the due process of the exercise.

It will be a disservice to our people if their effort tomorrow is made of no effect just to satisfy a few interests. Our people appreciate the rat race involved in this election and cannot pretend to be unmindful of efforts to subvert the will of the people. But to achieve that through any connivance with the refereeing authority will be injustice to all.

INEC owes the state a duty to resist any temptation by those determined to lead the state against the dictates of her conscience. What happens after the election derives from how fairly the commission chooses to conduct it.

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