The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a strong warning against vote-buying ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, gave the warning on Tuesday during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Awka.
Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections that truly reflect the will of Nigerians. He assured that INEC is fully prepared for the Anambra polls following a week-long assessment of the state’s readiness.
However, he disclosed that during a recent Mock Accreditation Exercise conducted in 12 polling units across six Local Government Areas using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the Commission experienced some network challenges. He noted that these issues are already being addressed to ensure smooth and stress-free elections.
Providing an update on election logistics, the INEC Chairman explained that results will be collated at 326 Ward Centres, 21 Local Government Centres, and the State Collation Centre in Awka.
Prof. Amupitan also announced an extension of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collection in the state after it was discovered that only 63.9% of registered voters had collected their cards.
“The Commission met yesterday and decided to extend the ongoing PVC collection in Anambra from Wednesday, October 29, to Sunday, November 2, 2025,” he said.
“Our mandate is to conduct credible elections, and we are determined to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.”
He further stated that INEC has finalized arrangements for the transportation of election materials and personnel, in collaboration with transport unions including the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Maritime Union Workers of Nigeria (MUWN).
According to him, 200 buses and 83 boats have been secured to ensure seamless logistics across the state.
Prof. Amupitan called for strong cooperation among security agencies, stressing that effective coordination is essential to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
“Security agencies must ensure that vote-buyers have no room to operate during the election,” he said. “We must all work together to protect democracy, curb electoral malpractices, and guarantee the credibility of the Anambra governorship election.”
He emphasized that the credibility of elections depends on the collective responsibility of all stakeholders and urged every participant to remain vigilant, professional, and committed to ensuring a transparent process.
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