No fewer than 14 cases of political assassinations were recorded in Anambra State between 2022 and 2024, according to a report by the Cleen Foundation.

The report cautioned that the killings could pose serious threats to the conduct of the November 2025 governorship election in the state.

The organization’s Director of Programmes, Salaudeen Hashim, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the presentation of the foundation’s 2025 Anambra Governorship Election Security Threat Assessment Report.

Citing the report, Hashim said Anambra witnessed no fewer than 14 cases of politically-linked killings in the last two years, a trend he described as “a disturbing element that requires urgent attention.”

He noted that the killings were taking place against a backdrop of widespread insecurity, proliferation of small arms, kidnappings and the activities of armed groups, all of which pose risks to the coming election.

“Within the last two years, some really disturbing trends have emerged in Anambra, particularly political assassinations. 213+ deaths linked to violence from 2022 to 2024, nine INEC facilities attacked, and 14 political assassinations were recorded, among others.

“To have this number within such a short period is something that requires serious attention,” he said.

He added that local political structures in the state had been “deeply politicized,” while rivalries among major political parties had often turned violent.

Hashim said the report also flagged the activities of non-state armed groups, youth gangs, drug abuse, misinformation and disinformation as threats likely to escalate electoral violence.

“Existing criminal threats combined with fierce political competition will create heightened risks. One key element blinking very strongly is the issue of small arms. There are a lot of reports about possession and usage of small arms in local areas,” Hashim stated.

Hashim urged security agencies to pay attention to local government areas such as Ihiala, Onitsha North, Ogbaru, Orumba North, Nnewi South, describing them as high-risk LGAs.

“The high-risk LGAs are Ihiala, Ogbaru, Nnewi South, Orumba North and Onitsha North.

They have recently recorded violent incidents. We urge security agencies to pay attention to these LGAs,” he said.

He, however, said the foundation plans to open an Electoral Security Support Centre on November 7 to monitor developments before, during and after the election, while also engaging security agencies to mitigate threats.

Acting Executive Director of the foundation, Peter Maduoma, said the report was part of efforts to provide early warning signals and support election stakeholders to respond effectively.

“We are looking forward to an election where the system will work. If security is well managed, Anambra can produce one of the best elections,” Maduoma said.

The Anambra governorship election is scheduled for November 8, 2025.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, a total of 2,802,790 voters are on the register for the State governorship election.

There have been cases of political assassinations in the state. In May 2022, a lawmaker representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s constituency, Okechukwu Okoye, and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, were gruesomely murdered after being kidnapped by gunmen along Aguluzigbo Road in Anaocha Local Government Area.

Similarly, Justice Azuka, the member representing Onitsha North 1 state constituency, who was abducted on Christmas Eve, was later found dead on February 6, 2025. (The PUNCH)