*IPAC tags election litmus test
*Charges electoral body on credible, transparent polls
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Ahead of the Anambra State governorship election slated for Saturday, November 8, this year, the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclosed that all the non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to the State.
The acting National Chairman of INEC, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, who revealed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the quarterly consultative meeting with Chairmen and Secretaries of the nation’s registered political parties, explained that Voter Education and sensitization is ongoing in the state ahead of the poll.
The Commission, she pointedly said, has been working assiduously and making arrangements for the successful conduct of the election, stressing that INEC has had several engagements with the Security Agencies at National, State and Local Government levels.
Her words, “In less than a month, precisely on 8th November, 2025, the Anambra State Governorship Election will be held.
“The timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Anambra State Governorship Election details 13 (thirteen) key activities to be carried out by the Commission. I am glad to inform you that the Commission has completed 10 (ten) of these activities.
“The outstanding activities are: the publication of Notice of Poll slated for 25th October, 2025, the Last day for Campaigns – 6th November, 2025 and the date of the Election – 8th November, 2025.
“The Commission is committed to keeping strictly to the remaining activities as detailed in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities.
Political Parties are therefore called upon to be mindful of the last day for campaigns and keep strictly to it.
“The Commission has been working assiduously and making arrangements for the successful conduct of the Anambra State Governorship Election and have had several engagements with the Security Agencies at National, State and Local Government levels.
All non-sensitive materials for the Election have been delivered to the State and Voter Education and sensitization is on going “, she said.
Briefing the party leaders further, Agbamuche-Mbu said, “the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) resumed Nationwide on 18th August, 2025 for online pre-registration and 25th August 2025 for in-person registration at all INEC State and Local Government Area Offices Nationwide.
“This exercise will run for a full year and will end on 30th August, 2026. The Commission is impressed by the response of Nigerians to the CVR exercise and for us, this is a testament that Nigerians believe in our democracy and the effort of the Commission towards ensuring that all eligible Nigerians are given the right to determine who leads them.
“The details of completed online pre-registrations and physical registrations are published on our website on a weekly basis”, she said.
Continuing, the acting INEC National Chairman said, “As you are aware, the Commission received a total of 171 requests for registration of Political Parties.
‘Each request was assessed on the basis of its compliance with the provisions of section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), section 79 (1, 2 and 4) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Clause 2 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.
“Out of the total number of applications received, 14 Associations have met the requirements to proceed to the next stage. These details have also been published on our website”, she said.
Speaking on behalf of the political parties, the Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, expressed the Council’s determination to collaborate
with the new leadership of INEC in deepening democracy in the country as it did during the tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Nigerians, the IPAC Chairman however said, expect credible, transparent and inclusive elections where every vote is counted and counts in the overall result. He pointed out that the litmus test of the new leadership is the conduct of the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election.
The success of this off-cycle election, according to him, will set the stage for the upcoming elections in 2026.
In the words of Dr Mamman Dantalle,
“IPAC looks forward to collaborating with the new leadership in deepening democracy in the country as it did during the tenure of Professor Mahmood Yakubu who implemented several reforms and carried leaders of political parties along.
“No doubt, that synergy will continue with the new leadership, though in acting capacity as democratic governance is a continuum.
“We must continue to sanitise the nation’s democratic system to meet the yearnings of citizens who desire and deserve dividends of constitutional rule, not rhetoric.
“After 26 years of unbroken democracy we should get it right. The ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act amendments provide yet another opportunity to advance our democracy.
“IPAC has been engaging the National Assembly and critical stakeholders on the review of the legal frameworks for sustainable democracy and development”, he said.
The IPAC Chairman pointedly to the acting INEC Chairman that Nigerians expect credible, transparent and inclusive elections where every vote is counted and counts in the overall result. According to him, “The litmus test of the new leadership is the conduct of the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election.
“The success of this off-cycle election will set the stage for the upcoming elections in 2026 including the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls, Osun and Ekiti States gubernatorial elections and the decisive 2027 general election. INEC should put its acts together and get it right”, he emphatically declared.
