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Released: 2:30 pm – Saturday, November 8th, 2025

The Anambra State Governor Election commenced as planned on Saturday, November 8th, 2025. The calm environment that was present before the election day remained consistent. Information from our teams of observers and partners stationed throughout the state indicated a somewhat delayed start to voting, with an average opening time of 9:15am in most polling stations monitored. Although we recognize the prompt commencement of voting in several polling stations, we observe that the polls were significantly delayed in many areas within Ogbaru and Nnewi-North Local Government Areas (LGAs), where voting began mostly after 10:00am.

The Situation Room is especially worried that certain Polling Units (PUs 015, 012, 013, 004, and 003) situated inside the RAC center at Umuike Public Square, Ward 9, Awka South LGA, which were not supposed to need transportation, did not set up properly and did not start voting until after 9:00am. Observers from the Situation Room noted a slow arrival of voters in several PUs and saw many residents opening their shops and carrying out regular activities during the early stages of voting in most LGAs.

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was said to have operated effectively, with an average processing time of one minute per voter in most polling units, and poll workers showing a reasonably good understanding of the voting procedure. Nevertheless, voting was postponed until 10:30am at PU 015 All Hallow Seminary School in Ward 9 of Onitsha North LGA because of a failure in the deployed BVAS.

Awareness Regarding the Relocation and Grouping of Voting Stations:

The Situation Room noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to carry out sufficient voter awareness campaigns in areas where polling units were relocated and grouped into various voting centers across the State. Observers indicated that this grouping of polling stations, without proper information dissemination, made it difficult for voters to locate the correct polling units in the affected regions, except in Ihiala LGA, where 80 polling units from Azia, Mbosi, Lilu, Iseke, Obolo Isiuzo, and Osumowo Wards were transferred to the local government secretariat premises due to concerns over security.

Election Security:

Observers in the Situation Room noted a general presence of security forces, mainly from the Nigeria Police Force, across the State and various PUs. Nevertheless, the distribution of these personnel was not ideal, as certain areas such as Nnewi-South, Anaocha, and Onitsha-North were not completely secured. Several security officers who were engaged by our observers mentioned that they had not yet received their allowances for election duties.

The Situation Room was not informed of any significant violent events during this election, except in Polling Units 001, 002, and 003 located in Ward 2 of Anaocha LGA, where some individuals wearing INEC uniforms interfered with the voting process and prevented supporters of certain political parties from entering the polling unit, favoring another party instead. This issue was promptly reported to the Nigeria Police.

Misinformation and Fake News:

The Situation Room also got reports from its partner about certain social media accounts reusing old election-related violence videos and news, aiming to create chaos and disrupt the calm environment. There were also reports that a candidate from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) withdrew from the election, and another story circulating claimed that the NYSC turned down a N10 million bribe from an All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate – both of these were verified and proven to be untrue.

Activities of party representatives and vote purchasing: In general, party agents from APGA, APC, and the Labour Party were present in many of the polling units visited. Situation Room observers also noted a significant occurrence of vote buying during this election, with party agents acquiring votes through cash amounts ranging from N5,000.00 to N30,000.00, as well as through wrappers, without any action from security forces. This remains a troubling pattern in Nigeria’s electoral processes. A party representative was seen promoting and seeking votes at PU005 Obodo Oji, Owerre Ezukala II in Orumba South LGA, which violates the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Conclusion:

With voting concluding at 2:30pm, the Situation Room urges INEC to properly oversee the counting and aggregation of votes, making sure each ballot is accurately accounted for in this election. The Situation Room will remain monitoring the process until the election ends and the results are officially announced.

SIGNED:

Yunusa Z. Ya’uChairperson, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room

Mimidoo AchakpaCo-Chair, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room

Franklin OlonijuCo-Chair, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room

The Situation Room consists of over seventy Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that are dedicated to promoting free and fair elections and good governance in Nigeria. The Steering Committee includes: Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability (formerly known as Alliance for Credible Elections, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Kimpact Development Initiative, Democratic Action Group (DAG), Women’s Rights to Education Programme, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), DIG Ebonyi, Life and Peace Development Organization (LAPDO), Rural Youth Initiative, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA), and Josemaria Escriva Foundation.

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