Voting commenced across all 21 local government areas of Anambra State on Saturday, 8 November 2025, with over 2.8 million registered residents expected to participate in the off-cycle governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that polls opened on schedule and were staffed with trained ad-hoc personnel deployed throughout the state.
INEC reported that 2,769,137 of the 2,802,790 eligible voters had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing 98.8 percent of registered voters. The commission also confirmed that all 5,718 polling units would operate with biometric verification devices (BVAS) to ensure accurate accreditation of voters.
Security measures were robust across the state, with over 45,000 police and other security personnel deployed to maintain peace and protect voters. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan emphasized the importance of voter turnout, stating, “The greatest enemy to Anambra’s democracy is not just external violence but voter apathy.”
Political parties continued their campaigns up to polling day. The All Progressives Congress (APC) inaugurated a 1,800-man campaign council in the state to strengthen its chances of winning, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly faced internal challenges that could affect its performance.
INEC and observers reiterated the commission’s zero-tolerance stance on vote-buying and other forms of electoral manipulation. Civic-monitoring groups highlighted that inducement-driven voting has historically been a challenge in the South East, stressing the need for vigilance.
Voters and party supporters mobilized early in the day, and observers commended INEC for timely deployment of materials and personnel. The Obidient Movement Worldwide launched a digital situation room to monitor developments across polling units in real time, demonstrating growing civic participation and election oversight.
Analysts suggest the election outcome will depend on both party organization and the independence of voters’ choices. They emphasized that transparency, security, and voter participation are key to ensuring the credibility of the process.
As polling units close and collation centers prepare to aggregate results, attention remains on Anambra State. The ability of authorities to maintain a free, fair, and credible election could serve as a benchmark for off-cycle governorship contests in Nigeria.
The coming hours will be critical in shaping public perception of the electoral process and reinforcing democratic governance in the state.
