Anambra Governorship Poll: INEC Storms State for Mock Accreditation, Vows to Deliver Transparent, Hitch-Free Election

The build-up to the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election gathered momentum on Thursday as a high-powered delegation from the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stormed the state to assess the level of preparedness ahead of the crucial poll.

The four-member delegation, led by the National Commissioner in charge of Election Planning and Monitoring, Professor Rhoda Gumus, also includes the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun; the Supervising Officer for Anambra State, Dr. Kenneth Ukeagu; and the Chairman, Electoral Operations and Logistics Committee, Dr. Baba Bila.

The team was warmly received at the INEC State Headquarters in Awka by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, and other senior officials, marking a key milestone in the commission’s final phase of election preparation.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists, Olumekun reassured the public that the commission was leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that the forthcoming election would be “free, fair, transparent, and credible.”

> “The commission’s readiness is both practical and measurable. All non-sensitive materials have been delivered to Anambra, while sensitive materials will arrive shortly under strict security arrangements,” Olumekun said.
“Our visit covers meetings with key stakeholders, mock accreditation, and a comprehensive review of logistics and operations — all aimed at demonstrating INEC’s unwavering commitment to a credible electoral process.”

According to INEC, the visit is designed to evaluate the logistics chain, operational efficiency, and overall preparedness of field officers, as well as strengthen collaboration with security agencies and transport unions.

As part of the inspection tour, the delegation visited Dunukofia (Anambra Central) and Oyi (Anambra North) Local Government Areas to monitor the batching of non-sensitive materials and assess the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in registration areas including Ukpo and Nteje.

At the end of the tour, the team expressed satisfaction with the level of progress recorded so far, commending INEC staff, stakeholders, and residents for their cooperation. It also urged voters to remain calm, law-abiding, and to turn out en masse on election day.

In the coming days, the delegation is expected to meet with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), engage with transport unions, and observe a mock accreditation exercise to further test the readiness of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other technologies ahead of the poll.

Reaffirming INEC’s determination to ensure early deployment of personnel and materials, the Anambra REC, Dr. Agwu, said the commission had made special provisions for hard-to-reach areas, particularly riverine communities, to ensure no voter is disenfranchised.

> “Funds and boats have been provided to convey officials and materials to riverine areas. All materials will leave the CBN state headquarters on the afternoon of Thursday, November 6, to guarantee early arrival at polling units,” Agwu stated.

She added that the commission had intensified voter education and sensitization, reminding the electorate that voting would commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m., while all voters already on the queue by the closing time would still be allowed to cast their ballots.

INEC’s presence in Anambra, coupled with visible on-ground logistics and heightened security coordination, signals that the electoral body is determined to deliver one of the most transparent and efficiently managed elections in the state’s history.