Electoral Hub Commends INEC’s Professionalism and Transparency in 2025 Anambra Governorship Election

The Electoral Hub, an Initiative for Research, Innovation, and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD), has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what it described as marked improvements in professionalism, transparency, and logistics during the just-concluded Anambra governorship election.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of the Electoral Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels, said the 2025 Anambra election reflected a significant leap in electoral administration compared to previous polls.

“As an accredited observer and civil society organisation committed to promoting electoral knowledge, accountability, inclusion, and integrity, the Electoral Hub monitored the process from pre-election preparations to post-election activities,” Hamman-Obels noted. “We commend INEC for the relative professionalism and transparency demonstrated throughout the electoral process.”

She highlighted several positive developments that strengthened the credibility of the poll, including strict adherence to the election timetable, timely commencement of voting at 8:30 a.m. in most polling units, and the effective performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which achieved a 99.62% result upload to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) by 9:15 a.m. on November 9.

Hamman-Obels further commended INEC ad-hoc officials, including NYSC members, for their professionalism and compliance with electoral guidelines. She noted that results were transparently collated from the ward to state level, culminating in the declaration of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner with 422,664 votes, ahead of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who secured 99,445 votes.

She also acknowledged INEC’s inclusion efforts, noting that voters with disabilities were provided with braille, magnifying glasses, and sign language interpreters at 25 polling stations, while women, including pregnant voters, were given priority in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022.

Despite these gains, Hamman-Obels pointed out several challenges that marred the exercise, including the N50 million campaign permit fee imposed by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), which she said created an uneven playing field favoring wealthier parties, particularly the ruling APGA.

She also cited reports of vote buying ranging between ₦3,000 and ₦20,000 per voter, low voter turnout at 21.4% of registered voters, and security concerns following the killing of a local councillor in Orumba South Local Government Area.

While acknowledging that the election showcased tangible progress, Hamman-Obels cautioned that it still occurred within the broader context of Nigeria’s “democratic recession.”

“The 2025 Anambra Governorship Election shows how credible, transparent, and participatory elections can be achieved when all stakeholders unite around their shared responsibility to protect electoral accountability and integrity,” she said.

She called on citizens to remain engaged in democratic processes and to continue demanding transparency and accountability from electoral institutions, political actors, and government leaders.

Reaffirming the Electoral Hub’s commitment to advancing electoral knowledge, inclusion, and accountability, Hamman-Obels urged sustained collaboration among INEC, political parties, civil society, the media, and the legislature to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic governance.

“This is imperative to cultivating an electoral environment that is free, fair, transparent, and conducive to robust democratic participation,” she concluded. “Sustained engagement among stakeholders is critical for building a resilient democracy that safeguards citizens’ rights and promotes effective governance.”

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