With just weeks to the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the media have resolved to intensify collaboration to avert credibility concerns that have plagued past elections.
The commitment was reaffirmed on Wednesday in Abuja during two separate quarterly consultative meetings chaired by the Acting INEC Chairman, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu. Participants acknowledged that public confidence in the electoral process remains fragile and must be deliberately rebuilt.
Speaking for the civil society community, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), congratulated Mrs Agbamuche-Mbu on her appointment but cautioned that Nigerians would judge INEC by its performance, not promises.
“This election will test INEC’s institutional capacity and the integrity of its field officers,” Nwagwu said. “Sub-national elections like Anambra are where Nigerians measure the true strength of the Commission’s independence and professionalism.”
He urged the Commission to ensure that the mistakes of previous polls, including logistical lapses, weak enforcement of electoral laws, and delayed result transmission, are not repeated.
Nwagwu, however, acknowledged the Commission’s efforts to sustain the use of technology, saying innovations such as the BVAS and IReV platforms must be fully protected from political interference.
*Media demand transparency, access to information
Also speaking, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) President, Comrade Yahaya Alhassan, called on INEC to strengthen collaboration with journalists covering elections, primarily through access to timely data, safety assurance, and fact-checking support to combat misinformation.
“The media’s job is not just to observe, but to ensure accountability,” Alhassan said. “A free, responsible, and informed press remains the best antidote to electoral malpractice and public distrust.”
He stressed that journalists must report with accuracy and fairness, but warned that INEC’s communication lapses in previous elections had often created room for suspicion.
“If the Commission expects credible coverage, it must also be transparent and accessible,” he added.
In her response, Acting INEC Chairman May Agbamuche-Mbu insisted the Commission is ready to deliver a credible poll, disclosing that 10 of the 13 activities in the election timetable have been completed.
She said all non-sensitive materials had been delivered to Anambra, voter sensitisation was ongoing, and media accreditation for 363 personnel from 43 organisations was in progress. She warned that the portal would close on October 24 without extension.
“Our democracy is stronger when citizens are informed, engaged, and confident in the process,” she said. “We’ll continue to work hand in hand with the media, civil society, and all stakeholders to safeguard the vote and deepen our democratic culture.”
Agbamuche-Mbu also highlighted preparations for the FCT Area Council Elections in February 2026 and the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which runs until August 2026.
Wednesday’s consultative sessions come at a tense moment for INEC, following public scepticism over recent elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa, where observers raised concerns about vote buying, weak logistics, and delayed results.
