INEC Says Anambra Fully Ready for Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that Anambra State is fully prepared for the upcoming governorship election scheduled to take place on November 8, 2025.

The announcement came after a weeklong readiness assessment by a delegation from INEC headquarters in Abuja. The team, led by National Commissioner for Election Planning and Monitoring, Rhoda Gumus, reviewed logistics, facilities, and security arrangements across the state. Other members of the delegation included National Commissioners Sam Olumekun, Kenneth Ukeagu, and Baba Bila.

According to a bulletin released on Monday by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, the team arrived in Awka on October 21 and met with the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State, Queen Elizabeth Agwu, and the State Management Team to assess the final stages of preparation.

During their visit, the delegation inspected ongoing deployment of non-sensitive materials in local government areas such as Dunukofia and Oyi, monitored the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, and interacted with voters. They also held meetings with Electoral Officers from all 21 local governments to discuss logistics, early activation of Registration Area Centres, and movement of election materials and personnel.

INEC also held talks with leaders of transport unions including the National Union of Road Transport Workers, National Association of Road Transport Owners, and Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, to ensure smooth election-day logistics under their existing agreement with the commission.

A meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security was also held during the visit, with representatives from the Police, DSS, Civil Defence, and military providing updates on security arrangements to guarantee peaceful polls.

The team rounded off its tour with a mock accreditation exercise in Anambra East to test the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The devices functioned well, and the commission described its level of readiness as near complete.

At the end of the visit, INEC officials expressed satisfaction with the overall state of preparedness, stating that both the commission and the people of Anambra were ready for a credible, peaceful, and transparent election.