The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its readiness for the Anambra State Governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025. The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), held at the Commission’s headquarters.
Amupitan, who was chairing ICCES for the first time since assuming office, said the Commission had concluded a week-long readiness assessment across the state, including a Mock Accreditation Exercise in 12 polling units. He noted that although some network challenges were recorded, they were being resolved ahead of the election.
According to him, INEC will deploy about 24,000 personnel across 5,718 polling units. Voting will not take place in two polling units due to the absence of registered voters. Collation will follow the usual structure at ward, local government, and final state collation centres in Awka.
The INEC Chairman also announced an extension of the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the state. This follows a report which indicated that only 63.9% of registered voters had collected their PVCs.
“The Commission has extended PVC collection in Anambra from Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2, 2025. No eligible voter should be disenfranchised,” he said.
Prof. Joash Amupitan, INEC Chairman
Amupitan also praised security agencies for strengthening the security environment in the state, noting that a high-level ICCES meeting held in Anambra helped to firm up field coordination plans. The Police, DSS, NSCDC and military, he said, have assured of heavy deployments and joint patrols before, during and after the election.
On logistics, he disclosed that INEC has concluded transportation arrangements with recognized transport unions, including the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), and has hired 200 buses and 83 boats for election material movement.
He also issued a strong warning against vote buying, calling for joint vigilance by security and anti-graft agencies.
“Any attempt to induce voters before or during the election must be resisted and curtailed. Together, let us uphold democracy and protect the credibility of our elections,” he said.
The INEC Chairman urged all ICCES members to work for a peaceful, credible and transparent election.
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