INEC Guarantees Strict Observance of Election Dates to Parties Ahead of Anambra Polls

Political parties have been reassured by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it will keep to the remaining schedule for the Anambra governorship election on November 8.

May Agbamuche-Mbu, the acting chairman of INEC, provided the assurance Tuesday in Abuja at the commission’s third regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu asked political parties to adhere to the commission’s planned actions for the election of the state governor.

Ten of the thirteen major tasks planned for the Anambra vote, she claimed, had already been finished by the commission.

She stated that the October 25 notice of polling, the November 6 campaign deadline, and the November 8 election date are the remaining activities.

“The commission pledges to adhere scrupulously to the remaining activities as specified in the program and timetable of activities.

Thus, she stated, “political parties are called upon to be mindful of the last day for campaigns and strictly adhere to it.”

According to the acting INEC chairman, the commission has been diligently working and preparing for the election’s successful conduct.

Additionally, she added that the electoral body has met with national, state, and local security agencies on multiple occasions.

She said 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’ reaction to the ongoing nationwide continuous voter registration (CVR) campaign was praised by Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu.

This, in our opinion, shows that Nigerians value their democracy and the commission’s work to guarantee that all eligible Nigerians have the ability to choose their leaders, she said.

The exercise, which started on August 18 and would go for a year, ending on August 30, 2026, according to the acting INEC chairman.

She praised the contributions that Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past chairman of INEC, made to the electoral process and noted that he left behind a legacy of honesty, innovation, and institutional strength.

She declared, “Today, we acknowledge with deep appreciation his (Yakubu’s) invaluable contribution, not just to INEC but to democracy across the (African) continent.”

Yusuf Dantalle, the national head of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), called on the National Assembly to move quickly on the ongoing election and constitutional reforms.

“IPAC has already submitted its proposals, including a call to abolish State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), and recommend that INEC be given the responsibility of conducting all local government elections,” Mr. Dantalle added.

He added 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.

In order 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 forthcoming election in Anambra will act as a “litmus test” for the commission’s new leadership and pave the way for future surveys, including as the “decisive” general elections in 2027.

“Nigerians anticipate inclusive, transparent, and credible 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.

Mr. Dantalle requested INEC to correct its behavior.