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ActionAid Nigeria has called on electoral authorities, security agencies, political parties and voters to uphold transparency, neutrality and peaceful participation as Enugu State prepares for the local government area (LGA) elections.
The Country Director (CD) of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr Andrew Mamedu, in a statement issued on Saturday said they had deployed observers across the state in collaboration with the Southern Sahara Development Organization (SSDO) and Justice and Peace Development Commission (JDPC) to monitor the elections and receive reports from LGAs and wards.
He said the first state-level polls in Enugu ahead of the 2027 general elections presented an opportunity to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and local governance.
Mamedu identified safety issues, particularly in rural communities and along intra-LGA routes, as areas requiring particular attention.
The CD expressed concern over the low public awareness of elections across the state.
He said the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) has reported 90% operational availability, including plans to move non-sensitive election materials ahead of polling day at the council headquarters.
It said its observers will monitor key aspects of the process, including voter participation, conduct of security personnel, deployment of election materials and personnel, timely opening of polling units, priority voting and accessibility for persons with disabilities, preparation of ad hoc election personnel, exchange of votes and transparency of the collation process.
He said 11 political parties had been selected to contest the elections, with contests scheduled in 17 LGAs and 260 councilor positions.
He urged political parties and candidates to encourage their supporters to reject violence, intimidation and other forms of electoral misconduct and to respect the rights of voters, opponents and election officials.
Mamedu called on the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to act impartially and apply the law based on credible evidence rather than political affiliation.
He also urged security agencies to provide adequate protection to remote and rural communities, while ensuring that security implementation remains proportionate and intelligence-driven.
Mamedu warned against excessive militarization of the election environment, saying security personnel should focus on protecting voters, officials and election materials, and preventing violence and intimidation.
“ActionAid also calls on ENSIEC to improve timely public communication, in particular regarding the circulation of electoral materials, security emergencies, affected polling stations and any changes to electoral arrangements.
“Any adjustments necessitated by safety concerns should follow clear, publicly communicated criteria and established procedures,” he said.
Mamedu urged people to participate peacefully
ActionAid encouraged Enugu residents to participate in the elections and vote peacefully for the candidates of their choice.
