AWKA, Nigeria — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Anambra State fully prepared for the November 8, 2025 governorship election, following a weeklong readiness assessment conducted by a top-level delegation from its Abuja headquarters.
The team, led by National Commissioner for Election Planning and Monitoring, Rhoda Gumus, carried out a detailed inspection of electoral facilities, logistics, and security arrangements across the state.
According to a daily bulletin issued on Monday by Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, the delegation included National Commissioners Sam Olumekun, Kenneth Ukeagu, and Baba Bila.
The officials arrived in Awka on October 21 and held strategy meetings with Queen Elizabeth Agwu, the Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, and members of the State Management Team to finalize operational plans.
“Our mission is to ensure every logistical, security, and operational element required for the election is in place and fully functional,” the bulletin stated.
The delegation toured multiple local government areas, including Dunukofia and Oyi, where they monitored the deployment of non-sensitive materials and observed Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution activities. Gumus urged residents to remain patient and cooperative, assuring that all registered voters would be able to collect their cards before election day.
During meetings with Electoral Officers from Anambra’s 21 local government areas, the team discussed logistics management, early activation of Registration Area Centres (RACs), and the movement of election personnel and materials.
Kenneth Ukeagu emphasized accountability, directing officials to maintain strict documentation and monitoring of all materials.
“Every vehicle, every ballot, every form must be properly tracked,” he said.
Baba Bila, Chairman of INEC’s Electoral Operations and Logistics Committee, called on staff to uphold the commission’s integrity, while Sam Olumekun, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, highlighted the importance of transparency and professionalism.
The delegation also met with leaders of key transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), who will handle election-day logistics under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with INEC.
Ukeagu reiterated that the commission would ensure prompt payment for transport services while maintaining strict accountability.
“This is not business as usual. Stick to the agreed vehicles and procedures. Accountability must be total,” he warned.
A high-level meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) was also held, with representatives from the Nigeria Police, DSS, NSCDC, and the military providing updates on security arrangements.
“Our shared goal is simple — peaceful, credible elections across all polling units,” Agwu noted, commending the synergy among security agencies.
The visit concluded with the observation of a Mock Accreditation Exercise in Anambra East, where the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was tested. The devices performed efficiently, leading Ukeagu to declare that INEC was “99 percent ready” for the polls.
Rhoda Gumus expressed confidence in the commission’s preparedness and praised the cooperation between INEC, local stakeholders, and residents.
“Our visit confirms that Anambra is ready, INEC is ready, and the people are ready. We are committed to delivering an election that reflects the true will of the electorate,” she said.
