Political parties have received assurances from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it will adhere to the remaining schedule for the Anambra governorship election on November 8.
During INEC’s third regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties on Tuesday in Abuja, acting chairman May Agbamuche-Mbu provided the assurance.
However, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu asked political parties to adhere to the commission’s planned actions for the election of the state governor.
According to her, the commission has already finished ten of the thirteen important tasks planned for the Anambra election.
The publishing of the notice of poll scheduled on October 25, the deadline for campaigning on November 6, and the election date on November 8 are among the unfinished business, she said.
The commission pledges to adhere closely to the remaining activities as specified in the program and timeline.
Therefore, she stated, “political parties are called upon to be mindful of the last day for campaigns and strictly adhere to it.”
“The commission has been working diligently and making arrangements for the successful conduct of the election,” stated the acting chairperson of INEC.
She added that the electoral authority has met with national, state, and local security authorities on multiple occasions.
She claims that the state has received all of the election’s non-sensitive materials and that voter education and sensitization campaigns are still going on.
Nigerians’ response to the ongoing nationwide continuous voter registration (CVR) campaign was praised by Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu.
“We see this as evidence that Nigerians trust our democracy and the commission’s work to guarantee that all eligible Nigerians have the ability to choose their leaders,” she said.
The exercise started on August 18 and would go for a year, ending on August 30, 2026, according to the acting INEC chairman.
She praised Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past chairman of INEC, for his contributions to the electoral process, saying he left behind a legacy of integrity, innovation, and institutional strength.
“Today, we sincerely appreciate his (Yakubu’s) invaluable contribution to INEC and to democracy throughout the (African) continent,” she stated.
Yusuf Dantalle, national head of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), called on the National Assembly to move quickly on the ongoing election and constitutional reforms.
According to Mr. Dantalle, IPAC has already presented its recommendations, which included a recommendation that INEC be given full control over all local government elections and a request to abolish State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).
He noted that the creation of an Electoral Offenses Commission to bring charges against electoral violators and the return of funds for political parties to guarantee fair competition were two other important measures put forth by IPAC.
To ensure the commission’s independence from political influence, the IPAC national chairman also mentioned removing the executive’s authority to choose INEC’s chairman, national commissioners, and resident electoral commissioners.
He said that the next election in Anambra will be a “litmus test” for the commission’s new leadership and lay the groundwork for future surveys, including as the “decisive” general elections in 2027.
Nigerians anticipate inclusive, transparent, and trustworthy elections in which each vote is taken into account and influences the final outcome.
“The Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls, the gubernatorial elections in Osun and Ekiti States, and the pivotal general elections in 2027 will all be impacted by the outcome of this off-cycle election,” he said.
INEC should put its acts together and get them right, Mr. Dantalle advised.
