CSOs have urged INEC to deploy competent and impartial officials for the Anambra election.
They said fairness and transparency are key to ensuring credible and peaceful polls.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prioritize the deployment of credible and competent officials for the November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election.
The call was made during the Commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with CSOs held in Abuja, where stakeholders discussed election preparedness, logistics, voter education, and the use of technology in the upcoming polls.
Speaking at the meeting, the Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), Ezenwa Nwagwu, said the credibility of the Anambra election would depend largely on the competence and impartiality of the officials deployed by INEC. He emphasized that Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Electoral Officers play a decisive role in shaping public confidence in the electoral process.
Nwagwu commended INEC for sustaining the use of technological tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which, he said, had improved transparency and accountability in recent elections. He also pledged that civil society groups would continue to partner with the Commission to promote voter awareness and defend the integrity of the democratic process.
Responding, the Acting Chairman of INEC, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, assured the CSOs that the Commission was fully committed to conducting a credible and transparent election in Anambra. She revealed that all non-sensitive election materials had already been delivered to the state, adding that voter education activities were ongoing across the 21 local government areas.
Agbamuche-Mbu noted that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise had recorded impressive participation, reflecting citizens’ enthusiasm ahead of the polls. She called on political parties, candidates, and civil society partners to support INEC’s efforts by promoting peace, civic engagement, and respect for electoral laws throughout the campaign period.
The meeting ended with a shared commitment from both INEC and CSO representatives to sustain collaboration aimed at ensuring a smooth, credible, and inclusive election process in Anambra State.
