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By Myke Agunwa With just 12 days to the November 8, 2025, Anambra Governorship Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its preparedness following a comprehensive weeklong readiness assessment across the state. A high-level delegation from the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, led by National Commissioner for Election Planning and Monitoring, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, concluded a statewide tour of facilities, stakeholders, and operational structures aimed at ensuring a seamless electoral process. The delegation, which included National Commissioners Sam Olumekun, Dr. Kenneth Ukeagu, and Dr. Baba Bila, arrived Awka on October 21 and immediately began engagements with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, and the State Management Team. Their mission was to confirm that every logistical, security, and administrative details were in place for a credible poll. Field inspections took the team to several local governments, including Dunukofia and Oyi, where batching and deployment of non-sensitive materials were ongoing. The delegation also monitored the final phase of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection at designated Registration Areas. Interacting with voters, Prof. Gumus assured that every eligible citizen would be attended to. “This process is designed to be smooth and inclusive. No voter will be left behind,” she said. The delegation also met with the 21 Electoral Officers (EOs) managing elections across Anambra’s local councils. Their discussions focused on logistics, early activation of Registration Area Centres (RACs), and timely deployment of personnel and materials. Dr. Ukeagu emphasized accountability, warning that all election materials must be accurately tracked before and after the polls. “Every vehicle, every ballot, every form must be properly accounted for,” he said. Similarly, Dr. Baba Bila, Chairman of the Electoral Operations and Logistics Committee, reminded field officers that authority comes with responsibility. “The Commission has given you trust; you must return that trust with integrity,” he charged. Mr. Sam Olumekun, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), also urged transparency in field operations, noting that professionalism remains the Commission’s strongest currency. In another engagement, the delegation met with leaders of the NURTW, NARTO, and RTEAN, who are partners in election-day logistics under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Dr. Ukeagu warned that INEC would not tolerate sabotage or last-minute withdrawal of vehicles. “This is not business as usual. Stick to the agreed arrangements—payment will be prompt, but accountability must be total,” he cautioned. The readiness mission also featured a high-level meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), where heads of security agencies including the Police, DSS, NSCDC, and the militaryngave assurances of coordinated patrols before, during, and after the election. “Our goal is simple: peaceful, credible elections across all polling units,” they pledged. Dr. Agwu commended the security synergy, saying it reinforced voter confidence. “We enter this election with a peaceful state of mind. The cooperation we see today gives us confidence that materials, personnel, and voters will move freely and safely on election day,” she said. The visit ended with a Mock Accreditation Exercise in Anambra East, where officials tested the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The devices reportedly performed flawlessly, confirming their readiness for statewide deployment. “Every component is in place—from logistics to voter sensitization,” Dr. Ukeagu concluded, declaring INEC “99% ready” for the poll. At the close of the mission, Prof. Gumus expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness. “Our visit has shown that Anambra is ready, INEC is ready, and the people are ready,” she said. “We look forward to delivering an election that will reflect the true will of the electorate.” Meanwhile, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) has approved the appointment of Mr. Adedayo Eriye Oketola, a veteran journalist and former Editor of The Punch Newspaper, as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS). The appointment, conveyed in a letter signed by Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission, on October 24, 2025, takes immediate effect. A multi-award-winning journalist with nearly two decades of newsroom experience, Oketola’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to strengthen INEC’s public communication and media engagement as the Commission prepares for multiple off-cycle governorship elections in 2025. Mrs. Oriaran-Anthony, in the appointment letter, congratulated Oketola and urged him to uphold the Commission’s integrity and transparency. “You are expected to discharge your duties with professionalism and commitment to INEC’s mandate of free, fair, and credible elections,” she wrote.
