Anambra election: INEC chair pledges to fix network glitches

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has assured Nigerians that the commission is taking urgent steps to resolve network challenges experienced during the mock accreditation exercise in Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

The exercise, conducted over the weekend in selected areas of the state, was part of INEC’s preparations for the upcoming poll.

Speaking at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security on Tuesday in Abuja, Amupitan said the commission is “fully prepared” for the election and is committed to ensuring a smooth and credible process.

“We recently conducted a Mock Accreditation Exercise in 12 selected polling units in 6 Local Government Areas of Anambra State, using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.

Although we encountered some network challenges, efforts are being made to ensure a seamless election on 8th November, 2025, and we are ready for large-scale deployment on Election Day,” he assured.

According to the INEC chairman, the commission plans to deploy “24,000 personnel across 5,718 polling units in Anambra State,” with voting not taking place in “two polling units due to the absence of registered voters.”

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

The Don, who presided over his first ICCES meeting as INEC Chairman, pledged to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s elections.

“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 said.

In response to reports that only 63.9 per cent of registered voters had collected their Permanent Voter Cards, the Commission decided to extend PVC collection in the state.

“This extension, from Wednesday, 29th October, to Sunday, 2nd November, 2025, is aimed at ensuring all eligible voters can collect their cards.

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

The INEC chairman also commended security agencies for their efforts in creating a safe environment for the polls, noting that coordinated patrols and deployments would ensure peaceful conduct 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 emphasised.

Amupitan further disclosed that INEC had concluded arrangements with transport unions, including the National Association of Transport Owners, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.

“We have hired 200 buses and 83 boats to ensure seamless transportation of poll officers and sensitive materials,” he said.

He warned against voter inducement and reiterated the commission’s partnership with law enforcement and anti-graft agencies to combat vote buying.

The don cautioned, “We would like to warn that 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.

“Together, let us combat vote buying, uphold the values of democracy, and work relentlessly for the credibility of our elections.”

The meeting, co-chaired by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and represented by the Director of Internal Security in the Office of the NSA, Hassan Abdullahi, convened senior security, intelligence, and law enforcement officials to finalise strategies for ensuring a smooth and incident-free election.

Amupitan concluded by expressing optimism that, with collective effort, the Anambra Governorship Election would set a new standard for electoral integrity in Nigeria.

The path ahead may be challenging,” he said, “but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve.”

INEC disclosed that about 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the poll, while 11 out of 13 scheduled pre-election activities have already been completed.

Among the remaining key activities are the conclusion of political campaigns on November 6 and the governorship election itself on November 8.