An election observation group under the aegis of The Electoral Hub has scored the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) highly against previous records, days after the just-concluded Anambra State election.

The group, in a statement signed by the Director, Princess Harman-Obels, on Wednesday, indicated that the leadership of the new INEC Chairman may have started to restore people’s confidence in Nigerian elections.

The group, however, pointed out that there were instances of vote buying recorded in a few areas, indicating that the umpire still needs to do more to educate voters.

The group said, “We have discovered several notable improvements [that] characterised the Anambra governorship election compared to previous elections, which all contributed to the integrity of the election. One of such improvements is the prompt upload of PU results to the IReV.”

The Electoral Hub further highlighted that there was good compliance with the Election Timetable and Schedule, which it said demonstrated strict adherence to the legal frameworks for elections. “The INEC carried out every election activity in line with its official timetable and schedule. This level of precision highlights INEC’s dedication to maintaining the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.

“For the election, Polling Units (PUs) were expected to be opened at 8.30 a.m. and closed at 2.30 p.m. Polls started promptly at most PUs at 8:30 a.m. This timely opening helped ensure an orderly start to voting, minimised delays, and contributed to the overall quality and success of the election.”

According to the Electoral Hub, [the] performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS): BVAS technology again proved its value in biometric voter verification, significantly reducing impersonation and multiple voting.

It said the process enabled the timely collection and upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), with 99.62% of PUs’ results uploaded as of 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, November 9, 2025. This transparency supported real-time result monitoring and enhanced public confidence in the election’s integrity.

On the ad-hoc staff, presiding officers, collation officials, and NYSC members, their observations show that the INEC displayed commendable professionalism and efficiency. There was, to a great extent, adherence to guidelines and regulations to ensure transparent administration of voting, accreditation, and the collation process.

“Following the close of polls, INEC commenced an efficient and transparent collation of votes starting at the Ward level, then Local Government level, and culminating in the State Collation Centre in Awka. Professor Edogah Omoregie, SAN, oversaw the collation, announced the results as of 8:18 a.m. on November 9, 2025, and declared Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo (APGA) as the election winner, having secured 422,664 votes. His closest contender, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu (APC), garnered 99,445 votes.

“Considerable improvements in electoral logistics were evidenced throughout the process. On election day, the majority of PUs opened promptly at 8:30 a.m., reflecting INEC’s rigorous planning and deployment. 24,000 ad-hoc staff and 6,879 fully tested BVAS devices were deployed for the election, ensuring prompt, efficient, and credible voter accreditation and result management. Transportation logistics were effectively organised, with 2,233 buses and 83 boats hired from established state transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN). These vehicles, supported by security escorts, facilitated the timely movement of electoral materials and personnel, particularly to remote and riverine locations, demonstrating INEC’s improved logistics coordination relative to previous elections.”

The group further notes that the election featured commendable inclusivity, as pregnant women and mothers with infants were prioritised at PUs, consistent with the Electoral Act 2022 provision and INEC guidelines. In compliance with Section 54 of the Electoral Act 2022, provisions for voters with disabilities (VWD) included braille and magnifying glasses at PUs and the deployment of sign language interpreters in 25 designated polling stations, ensuring wider accessibility and participation.

The group shared views on [the] prompt and extensive uploading of PU results (EC8A forms) to the IReV, significantly enhancing the transparency of the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election.

“By 6:57 p.m. on election day, over 96.05% of polling unit results had been uploaded, allowing voters, electoral stakeholders, and the public to monitor election outcomes in near real-time. At the end of the process on November 8, 2025, a total of 5,671 out of 5,720 PU results (representing 99.14%) had been uploaded to the IReV portal. By the conclusion of result collation on November 9, 2025, the following day, 5,698 out of 5,720 PU results had been uploaded to the IReV portal.”

“Over 60,000 total security personnel under the ICCES framework, with the police consisting of 45,000, were deployed for the election to maintain order and protect voters and electoral officials. Aerial surveillance with helicopters and drones was also used in historically volatile areas, and vehicular restrictions were enforced to maintain public order.

“However, while security personnel were present at many PUs, observations and reports indicated some exceptions. For example, Premium Times reported that in Anaocha LGA at Agulu Ward 2, PU 019, there were no security officers at the PU despite ongoing voting by 9:28 a.m. Likewise, in Orumba North LGA at Central Primary School, Awa Ward 5, PU 009, election officials and materials were on the ground, but security personnel were absent as of 8:42 a.m.

“Unlike the last governorship election in the state, when voting was cancelled in Ihiala due to security challenges, these coordinated efforts ensured a largely peaceful environment, allowing citizens to vote without fear or intimidation.”

The group, while expressing concern over pre-election campaign activities, observed that there was an uneven playing field. It said for instance, there was the imposition of a mandatory ?50 million campaign permit fee for the use of billboards and other outdoor campaign activities by Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) for political parties.

“The agency, while trying to regulate and ensure professionalism in the use of public advertising spaces, faced a significant financial barrier, particularly for smaller or less financially resourced parties, thereby limiting their ability to effectively use public advertising spaces through widely visible media such as billboards, posters, and branded vehicles.

“The ruling party, APGA, with the power of incumbency and also benefiting from state resources and greater financial capacity, could use these channels more extensively, reinforcing the imbalance. This situation raised concerns about fairness, as the high campaign permit fee limited equal access to voters and free and fair elections.”

Although it said the election was largely peaceful, localised incidents of violence were recorded in some areas. Notably, a tragic fatality occurred in Orumba South LGA, where a local councillor representing Owerre Ezukala Ward One was shot and killed while attempting to cast his vote.

“This incident underscores the ongoing tensions fueled by political rivalries and the activities of local militias, which intermittently pose security challenges. It highlights the need for sustained, and vigilant security measures to protect all phases of the electoral process and ensure the safety of voters and election officials.”

Meanwhile, the Electoral Hub alleged that one of the weaknesses of the election was the prevalence of vote trading, with monetary exchanges between party agents and voters at PUs ranging from N3,000 to N20,000. This malpractice, it said, compromises the integrity of elections.

“There is, therefore, the need for stronger electoral law enforcement and targeted voter education campaigns to address this menace.

“Voters’ engagement in the process remained low, with only about 21.4% of the registered voters’ electorate voting. This low turnout reflects voter apathy and disillusionment with broader socio-economic and political issues. Boosting voter participation through sustained civic education and inclusive policies remains an urgent priority.”

It reminded [readers] that while the 2025 Anambra Governorship election marks improvements in the electoral process, it is worth mentioning that it has taken place in a macro environment of democratic recession and decline in Nigeria.

The group further observed that the 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. “We call on all Nigerians to maintain active participation, to insist on transparency and accountability from electoral institutions and leadership across all sectors, and to positively shape the nation’s future through continued vigilance and civic engagement.”

The Electoral Hub said that it remains deeply committed to promoting electoral knowledge, accountability, inclusion, and integrity in Nigeria. “We encourage continuous engagement and constructive dialogue among all electoral stakeholders, including EMBs (INEC and SIECs), political parties, civil society, the legislature, the media, and the electorate. This is an imperative to cultivating an electoral environment that is free, fair, transparent, and conducive to robust democratic participation.” (THE SUN)