ANAMBRA GOVERNORSHIP CONTEST: CSOs Pledge Support for Peaceful and Credible Election
Oru Leonard
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), have pledged their full support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in ensuring a peaceful, transparent, and credible Anambra Governorship Election scheduled for 8th November 2025.
The pledge came on Wednesday in Abuja during the third quarterly consultative meetings with CSOs, presided over by the Acting Chairman of INEC, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu. The engagement underscored the Commission’s ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration with critical stakeholders whose roles remain essential to strengthening democracy in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the Civil Society community, the Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, congratulated Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu on her appointment as the second woman to lead INEC in an acting capacity. He commended her for maintaining close ties with civil society and pledged continued collaboration to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. Nwagwu emphasised that state elections, such as the upcoming Anambra poll, depend greatly on the competence and integrity of Resident Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers who oversee them and for direct prosecution liability of misconduct. He expressed confidence that under the Acting Chairman’s leadership, INEC would consolidate the innovations introduced in recent electoral cycles, especially the deployment of technology that enhances transparency.
In her address, the Acting Chairman, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, expressed gratitude to both groups for their partnership and reaffirmed the Commission’s preparedness for the Anambra Governorship Election. She announced that 10 out of 13 key activities in the election timetable had already been completed, with the remaining three — publication of Notice of Poll, end of campaigns, and election day on course and without delay. She stated that all non-sensitive materials had been delivered to the state and that voter education and sensitisation were ongoing.
The Acting Chairman also briefed stakeholders on other ongoing electoral activities, including preparations for the FCT Area Council Elections scheduled for February 2026, as well as the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise which will run until August 2026. She noted that the impressive turnout for the CVR reflected Nigerians’ faith in democracy and the Commission’s efforts to ensure that all eligible citizens are able to exercise their franchise.
She reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and credibility, assuring that the Commission would continue to engage stakeholders regularly to strengthen public trust in the electoral process. “Our democracy is stronger when citizens are informed, engaged, and confident in the process,” she said. “We will continue to work hand in hand with the media, civil society, and all stakeholders to safeguard the vote and deepen our democratic culture.
