Fatimah Otunsanya
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Tuesday assured political parties and stakeholders in Awka that logistics preparations for the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election had been fully secured to ensure a smooth and credible process.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum held at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Amupitan said the commission had finalised key operational arrangements, noting that INEC was “fully prepared” to deliver a free, fair and peaceful poll.
He disclosed that 11 of the 13 activities on the election timetable had been completed, adding that campaigns would end by midnight on November 6.
To facilitate the movement of personnel and materials, he said INEC had hired 2,233 buses from the National Association of Transport Owners and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, as well as 83 boats to serve riverine communities.
We reviewed all transport logistics with stakeholders across the 21 LGAs. We are leaving no stone unturned,” he said.
The INEC chair confirmed that political parties would inspect sensitive materials at the Central Bank of Nigeria in Awka before deployment.
On voter access and inclusivity, he stated that 63.9 per cent of newly registered voters had collected their Permanent Voter Cards, prompting an extension of the collection deadline to November 2. Uncollected cards, he added, would be retrieved and kept with the CBN until after the polls.
He also announced that sign-language interpreters would be deployed across polling units to support 3,456 registered persons with disabilities.
A total of 2,802,790 voters are captured in the final register, while 16 political parties will participate in the exercise.
Amupitan warned electoral officials to strictly comply with the Electoral Act, saying misconduct would attract sanctions.
“Let’s all say no to vote-buying and all forms of rigging,” he said.
Party leaders, including APC Chairman Basil Ejidike, raised concerns over the use of non-state actors, collation centre locations, and vote-buying—issues the INEC chairman pledged to address. The event was attended by representatives of civil society groups, traditional rulers and the media.
Meanwhile, NigeriaTodayTimes earlier reported that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a stern warning to criminal elements planning to disrupt the process, insisting that security agencies are fully prepared to enforce the law.