INEC Chairman Urges CSOs to monitor these electoral processes, submit applications for observer accreditation early.
Maryam Aminu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has held its second regular consultative meeting for 2025 with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), reaffirming its commitment to electoral transparency, fair political party registration, and improved collaboration with stakeholders ahead of key elections.
Addressing participants at the INEC Conference Room in Abuja, Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, noted that the meeting came amid two major electoral activities the ongoing primaries for the 2025 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and preparations for the Anambra State Governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
Yakubu encouraged CSOs to closely monitor these electoral processes and to submit their applications for observer accreditation early to ensure smooth participation.
He reminded stakeholders that campaigns in Anambra officially began on June 11 and will end 24 hours before election day.
On political party registration, Yakubu dismissed recent claims suggesting INEC’s impartiality was in question.
He stressed that the Commission has consistently adhered to the legal framework, citing its record of registering and later deregistering political parties in accordance with the law. “We will treat all requests for political party registration fairly and update Nigerians at every step,” he assured.
In a bid to promote transparency, INEC released the full list of 110 associations currently seeking registration as political parties. The list, which includes proposed names, acronyms, contact information, and details of their protem executives, has been published on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.
Yakubu also announced that INEC is set to resume nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and conduct outstanding bye-elections, with full details to be disclosed within 24 hours.
Representing the CSOs, Mrs. Faith Nwadishi, Executive Director of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, commended the Commission for its progress in electoral management.
She called on CSOs to intensify voter education efforts and urged the National Assembly to accelerate electoral reforms.
Nwadishi also appealed for ample time to be allocated for CSO registration to ensure comprehensive monitoring of the electoral process.
