INEC sets July 8 for voter registration ahead of Anambra’s November 2025 governorship election.
Residents urged to register or update details as commission prepares for smooth, fair exercise.
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State has announced that it will commence Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) on July 8, 2025, as part of preparations for the upcoming governorship election scheduled for November 8.
Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), made the announcement during a press conference held on Thursday at the INEC office in Awka. She emphasized that the voter registration exercise is solely for the governorship election and will not apply to the upcoming senatorial and House of Assembly bye-elections.
Dr. Agwu outlined the commission’s calendar of activities, including the CVR exercise, which will run from July 8 to July 17, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily, except on Mondays. The exercise will include both fresh registrations and corrections to existing voter details.
“We are calling on all eligible voters in Anambra, including residents who have not yet registered, to seize this opportunity to participate in the electoral process,” she said. “Those registering for the first time must appear physically at INEC offices, while individuals seeking to update or correct their data can do so online.”
She cautioned that all registration activities must be completed within the designated hours, as the system will automatically shut down at 3:00 p.m. daily.
As part of the commission’s preparations, training sessions for ad hoc staff and electoral committees will be held on Friday and Saturday. The REC also confirmed that the commission would publish the provisional voters register after the CVR exercise, allowing the public to verify and suggest corrections where necessary.
Addressing concerns about the August 16 senatorial bye-election, Dr. Agwu clarified that voters participating in that poll will use their existing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), as the ongoing CVR is exclusively for the November governorship vote.
She also disclosed that a separate, nationwide CVR will be launched immediately after the bye-election to prepare for the 2027 general elections.
“We have configured 300 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the governorship poll in November,” she said. “We’ve also finalized arrangements with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the deployment of corps members as ad hoc officials.”
Dr. Agwu warned residents against offering money for registration or attempting to register on behalf of others, describing such actions as illegal and ineffective. “INEC does not charge for registration. No one should pay to be registered, and no one should attempt to register for someone else,” she stressed.
Speaking on the early announcement of the election date, she noted that INEC is required by law to provide at least 360 days’ notice before a governorship election.
According to her, a total of 16 political parties have submitted candidates for the November 8 election. She also revealed that INEC had already serviced its vehicles and signed agreements with recognized transport unions to facilitate the movement of election materials.
“We’ve carried out awareness campaigns in line with the Electoral Act,” she said. “The commission has Memoranda of Understanding with transport unions to ensure logistics are handled efficiently. We want this election to surpass the standards of the last.”
She assured the public that all non-sensitive election materials had already arrived in the state, while sensitive materials are expected shortly.
Dr. Agwu urged political parties to embrace peaceful campaigning and avoid violence. “Campaigning should be about presenting ideas and track records, not inciting violence,” she warned. “Thuggery is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated by INEC or security agencies.”
She also disclosed that INEC had formally requested that the state government provide equal access to public venues for all political parties to hold their campaign activities, in keeping with democratic principles.
