•Deploys 687 observers, under the Election Observation Hub 98.89% PVCs collected – INEC
From Yahaya Umar, Awka
Ahead of tomorrow’s gubernatorial election in Anambra State, Yiaga Africa, a Civil Society Organisation ,CSO, has viewed to expose any manipulation of the results of Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra if they differ from those recorded at the polling units.
Chairperson, Yiaga Africa’s 2025 Anambra Election Mission, Dr. Asmau Maikudi, made this known yesterday in Awka, the state capital,while briefing journalists on CSO’s State of preparedness for the election.
Besides, Maikudi urged all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, fair, inclusive and credible electoral process.
She said that the group would also confirm the outcome of results that reflected ballots cast at the polling units.
She identified three key benchmarks for assessing the credibility of the election to include, efficiency of logistics; integrity of procedures; and impartiality of security agencies.
According to her “Drawing from past electoral experiences and recent bye elections, these three tests will serve as a litmus test for public trust in INEC, security agencies and political actors.
“Failure to meet these standards could further erode voter confidence and deepen the legitimacy crisis in Nigeria’s democracy”.
She said that a total of 687 observers, drawn from various civil society organisations would be deployed across the state under the Election Observation Hub.
She explained that the Hub comprises Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre, Centre for Media and Society, Nigeria Women Trust Fund, ElectHER and TAF Africa.
“Yiaga Africa is deploying its ‘Watching the Vote’ project as part of the broader observation hub, supported by the European Union under the EU-Support to Democratic Governance Project.
“The observers will work in coordinated clusters covering election integrity and results verification.
“They will also cover disability inclusion, gender participation, peace building, misinformation tracking, logistics observation and real-time data reporting”, she said.
Maikudi, then urged the INEC to ensure the integrity of the election by guaranteeing the uniform and uncompromised use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System ,BVAS, across all polling units.
“INEC must strengthen oversight of logistics by strictly supervising deployment of personnel and materials and ensuring transport companies meet contractual obligations.
“The Commission should also provide timely and clear information on voting arrangements in Ihiala LGA, where voting has been consolidated due to insecurity, to avoid confusion and disenfranchisement”, she added.
On security, Maikudi stressed the need for neutrality and professionalism, urging security agencies to exclude vigilante and other unconventional outfits from election duties.
“Security operations must be non-selective, avoiding intimidation or harassment of political actors, voters, accredited observers and journalists.
“They should prioritise intelligence-led deployment in flashpoints to deter violence, reassure voters and prevent escalation of conflicts”, she said.
In another development Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that 2,769,137 out of 2,802,790 registered voters in Anambra, representing 98.8 per cent collected their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, ahead of the Saturday governorship election in the state.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, described the turnout for PVC collection as “a significant achievement” for any election in Nigeria.
He noted that that the commission’s decision to extend the deadline for the collection of the cards across all 326 Registration Areas enabled nearly every eligible voter to obtain their card.
“Following the conclusion of voter registration and a thorough database clean-up, the commission finalised a register of 2,802,790 voters for this election on Sept. 4. Initially, only 63.9% of voters had collected their PVCs.
“To close this gap, INEC extended the PVC collection period from Wednesday, Oct. 29 to Sunday, Nov. 2, ensuring collection centres were open across all 326 Registration Areas (Wards).
“I am delighted to share a success story today: that extension has yielded excellent results. The percentage of collected PVCs to registered voters now stands at an impressive 98.80 per cent.
“This is a significant collection rate for any election in Nigeria, and it sends a clear signal. All uncollected cards will now be safely retrieved and stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the election”, he stated.
Amupitan urged all eligible voters to turn out enmasse on election day, assuring them of their safety in the election.
He noted that the historical slide in voter participation in the state remained worrisome, citing that in the 2013 Governorship Election, turnout was only 25.5% ,413,005 valid votes from 1,770,125 registered.
“In 2017, it dropped further to 20.10% ,422,314 valid votes from 2,364,134 registered. In 2021, the situation deteriorated sharply with a mere 10.27% turnout ,241,523 valid votes from 2,466,638 registered.
“Democracy only thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders. I, therefore, urge every person in Anambra to come out and exercise their civic right without fear or favour”, he said.
Amupitan said that the commission was tackling deployment with a rigor that would leave no room for excuses, saying all 5,718 polling units must open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m.
“To demonstrate our unwavering commitment to flawless delivery, four National Commissioners have remained in Anambra to personally supervise the election, supported by ten Resident Electoral Commissioners specially deployed from across the country”, he said.
Amupitan, however, said that registered voters in the six Registration Areas facing some security challenges in Ihiala Local Government would vote safely and securely in the Local Government secretariat, protected by security agencies.
“As a Commission, we are determined to deliver an election that is credible, inclusive, transparent, and efficiently executed.
“Anyone attempting violence, vote-buying, intimidation, or ballot interference will face swift, lawful consequences.
“To the voters, you have collected your PVCs, security will protect you, and INEC is ready for you. So, come out on Saturday, vote freely, vote peacefully, vote proudly”, he said.
Responding to questions on the how the commission wanted to address any potential case of misconduct by any ad hoc officer, Amupitan said that riot act had already been read to the participating officers at the Tuesday stakeholders meeting in Awka.
“We stressed that the resident electoral commissioner should own up the system, electoral officers should also own it up, and any case of misconduct will not be tolerated.
“So at the same time, we also promised to reward any local government, any electoral officer that comes up clean and the results are announced on time.
“When voting takes place, we have our own metrics we are going to use as a reward system.
“But on the other hand, anyone that commits any misconduct will be dealt with accordingly”, Amupitan said.
On the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Area Council Election, Amupitan reminded political parties participating in the election, that submission of the names of the polling agents and observers for the election would end on Dec. 15.
AljazirahNigeria reports that incumbent Anambra State incumbent Governor, Professor Charles Soludo of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, is in the race with 15 other candidates cleared by INEC.
They include: Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, and John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, George Moghalu of the Labour Party, LP, Echezona Oti of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, Ms. Chioma Ifemeludike of the African Action Congress, AAC, Jeff Nweke of Action Alliance, AA, Charles Onyeze of Accord Party, AP, Geoff Onyejegbu of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Others are: Chukwudubem Nweke of the Action Peoples Party, APP, Jerry Okeke of the Boot Party, BP, Ndidi Olieh of the National Rescue Movement ,NRM, Martin Ugwoji of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, and Vincent Chukwurah of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
