NIGERIA: INEC Chair Assures Resolution Of Network Glitches Ahead Of Anambra November 8 Poll

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has assured Nigerians that the commission is taking urgent measures to address the network challenges encountered during the recent mock accreditation exercise in Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting in Abuja, Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s readiness to deliver a smooth, transparent, and credible election in the state.

“We recently conducted a Mock Accreditation Exercise in 12 selected polling units across six local government areas of Anambra State using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). Although we encountered some network challenges, efforts are being made to ensure a seamless election on November 8, 2025,” the INEC Chairman said.

He disclosed that the commission would deploy about 24,000 personnel across 5,718 polling units in Anambra State, while voting would not take place in two polling units due to the absence of registered voters.

Amupitan added that election results would be collated at 326 ward centres, 21 local government area centres, and finally at the State Collation Centre in Awka.

Presiding over his first ICCES meeting since assuming office as INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan pledged to uphold electoral integrity and transparency.

“For INEC, this represents a new chapter, and I wish to reiterate my personal commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections that genuinely reflect the will of the Nigerian people,” he declared.

Responding to reports that only 63.9 per cent of registered voters had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the INEC boss announced an extension of PVC collection in the state from Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2, 2025, to enable more eligible voters to participate.

“We are determined that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised,” he added.

Amupitan also commended security agencies for their proactive roles in creating a safe electoral environment, noting that joint patrols and coordinated deployments would ensure peace before, during, and after the election.

“Synergy among all security agencies is non-negotiable, particularly at a time when the credibility of our elections is paramount,” he stressed.

To ensure smooth logistics, the INEC Chairman announced that the commission had finalized arrangements with major transport unions, including the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

According to him, 200 buses and 83 boats have been hired to convey polling officers and sensitive election materials across the state.

Amupitan warned political actors and their supporters against voter inducement, reiterating the commission’s collaboration with law enforcement and anti-graft agencies to combat vote buying.

“Any attempt to induce voters before or during the Anambra election must be resisted and curtailed. We must join hands to combat the menace of vote buying,” he cautioned.

The meeting, co-chaired by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu—represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi—brought together senior security, intelligence, and law enforcement officials to fine-tune strategies for a peaceful election.

INEC disclosed that about 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the Anambra governorship poll, with 11 out of 13 pre-election activities already completed.

The remaining activities include the conclusion of political campaigns on November 6 and the election proper on November 8, 2025.

Expressing optimism about the exercise, Prof. Amupitan said, “The path ahead may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve. Together, we will make the Anambra governorship election a model of electoral integrity in Nigeria.”