By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The Center for Transparency and Advocacy on Saturday frowned at the low turnout of voters, logistic challenges and Ill- treatment of security personnel during the 2025 Anambra State governorship election
Speaking at the mid-election briefing in Awka , Anambra State , Prof Alex Asigbo, an expert observer with Center for Transparency and Advocacy ( CTA)
said the organization deployed 50 trained observers across the 21 local government area of Anambra State.
He said the election was held in a relatively atmosphere of peace, amidst heavy deployment of security personnel, challenges of logistics , which resulted in late arrival of INEC personnel and materials , he added that there is need for INEC to carry out more voters education , adding that while voting was ongoing, a church program was being held in a part of the city.
He said, “The Anambra State Gubernatorial Election, one of the off-season elections in today’s Nigeria’s electoral calendar held across 21 Local Governments on the 8th November 2025.”
“The election held as scheduled in a relatively peaceful atmosphere, amid heavy deployment of police and other security agencies. We had noted the general climate of peace in the build up to the elections. CTA deployed 50 trained election observers across the 21 local government areas to observe the election.”
He recalled that in our pre-election assessment, we raised concerns on the preparedness of INEC, logistics, security, and the role of political actors in delivering a free, fair, credible, inclusive and conclusive elections.The following are the preliminary findings from our field observers deployed across the state: Time of arrival of INEC Officials and materials/ Commencement of voting”
“Reports from our field observers indicate that INEC officials and materials arrived late in many polling units, resulting in late opening of polls in many polling units. In about 68 percent of polling units, INEC officials and material arrived between 8:25 to 9am, while in about 31 percent of the polling units, voting commenced much later – between 8:30 and 10:00am.”
“CTA notes that INEC is yet to resolve its logistics challenge, as earlier highlighted in our pre-election press briefing,” he stated.
He said that despite assurances from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), CTA observers reported that logistics arrangements, including vehicles deployment, were inadequate, adding that In some instances, hired vehicles for the election refused to pick up other INEC officials to polling units after making their initial drop-off, which further contributed to delays.
Prof. Asigbo said that, “Our observers report that due to security reasons, INEC was forced to relocate voting in five communities of Azia, Orsumoghu, Mbosi, Ubuluisiuzo, Issekke and Lilu to the headquarters of Ihiala LGA .
He pointed out that, “Voter Turnout/ Conduct of Voters Voter turnout was generally low. Many have been influenced by voter apathy, security concerns, and doubts about the credibility of the electoral process. Some of the citizens showed lack of interest in the election, one of such experience was at Demonstration Primary School at Agu Awka in Awka South where our observers reported a Church programme going on simultaneously with voting.*
“We charged citizens to take civic duty very serious. INEC and Political parties must also take civil and voter education very serious to educate citizens. However, CTA commends the citizens for conducting themselves peacefully and in accordance with voting guidelines. ”
Alex Asigbo argued that CTA observers reported that security personnel behaved and conducted “themselves professionally, except in Ihiala LG headquarters where one of our observers reported an incident that happened at between 6:30 am to 7:51am which resulted in an injury in her foot, as a result of the activities of some overzealous police personnel.”
“This has been escalated to the police authorities. Our observers report that in 90.4 percent of the polling units, there were at least 3 security personnel in deployed.”
“There was report of no security personnel in 9.4 per cent of the polling units such as in Orumba North Oko Ward 1, PU 031, no security was present at about 9:46am.”
“Also in Anambra West Oroma-Etiti-Anam/Umuche 007, at about 10:34am no security personnel was present. CTA notes with concern the inadequate welfare arrangement for police personnel deployed for the Anambra election by the police leadership.”
“Some police personnel complained that they had nowhere to bath and slept in open fields since they arrived Anambra. Some also complained that they were yet to be paid their allowances, except the N1,000 budgeted for snacks for police by the INEC.”
“Our observers reported that INEC officials in line with the electoral guidelines gave preferences to pregnant women, nursing mothers, PWDs and the elderly. Reports from our observers across polling units showed that the BVAS worked well in over 80 percent of the polling units, except for a few cases where some voters where not accredited by BVAS or whose names were not on the register where they presented themselves.”
“There were reported cases of Ad hoc staff closing polls and announcing results at 2:19pm as against INEC stipulated time of 2:30pm, an action which may have disenfranchised some eligible voters”
“However, as at 4:48pm, 3, 861 results has been uploaded to iREV, representing 67 percent .”
Speaking also on the conduct of political parties, he noted that political parties and their candidates played a noticeably limited role in strengthening the electoral process during the Anambra election.
“Many of the political parties failed to deploy agents to several polling units, leaving the process largely unmonitored. Reports from the field indicated the only APGA deployed 100 percent to the polling units; APC 93.8 percent and Labour Party 37 per cent”.
CTA notes that this lack of presence of party agents at polling units not only create gaps in transparency but reflects a deeper problem of lack of commitment of politicians to invest in credible electoral practices.”
The CTA charges political parties to actively deploy agents, engage in robust voter education and take concrete steps to strengthen the integrity and credibility of the electoral process, considering that they are main beneficiaries of the electoral process”.
He maintained that
vote buying and selling was brazen and a major feature of the Anambra election.
“Vote buying also assumed a new dimension, cash transfers, food vouchers, name and account details collation. In some cases, these acts were perpetrated in full public glare and in the presence of security personnels. Given the mutative nature of vote buying and selling, the phenomenon appears far from being eradicated from the polity.”
“The INEC, the security agencies and other stakeholders need to work out measures to effectively address this ugly phenomenon.”
“As the collation process continues, we urge all stakeholders to continue to conduct themselves in a peaceful and responsible manner. Specifically, we call on all stakeholders to hold itself to the highest level of neutrality and accountability.”
“We hope that the collation process will be concluded in a peaceful atmosphere.We commend media, election observers, and police for their professional conduct,” he added.
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