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Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Queen Agwu, announced on Tuesday that a total of 2,803,000 registered voters are expected to participate in the state’s governorship election scheduled for 8 November.
Speaking during a strategy dialogue organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Abuja, under the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Agwu disclosed that about 140,907 newly registered voters would collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the week’s end. She added that 978 backup Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines had been reserved for deployment across the state’s 5,720 polling units.
“All ballot papers and result sheets are polling-unit specific, meaning that no material designated for one unit can be used in another,” she explained.
Agwu confirmed that all BVAS devices were fully charged and secured, while sensitive materials would be distributed under strict supervision and documentation at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “Some of the materials are already in our custody. My store officer locked the storage room, and I locked it again with my key — you cannot access it unless you demolish the building,” she said.
She further revealed that security officers across the three senatorial districts had completed training ahead of the polls, and that 16 political parties and their candidates would be contesting the election.
“We have published the list of candidates and their deputies in all 21 local government areas as required by law. Every provision of the Electoral Act has been followed,” she affirmed.
Agwu pledged impartiality and transparency, stressing that no political actor had attempted to influence her decisions. “No one has ever asked me to favour any candidate. I am here to serve Nigeria honourably. I pray that I will not be coerced,” she added.
While acknowledging challenges such as funding, logistics, and security, the REC assured that contingency measures had been put in place to mitigate potential disruptions. “We have strategies in motion and remain committed to ensuring a credible process. The people of Anambra can go to the polls with confidence,” she said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ekulu Remijius, representing the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, affirmed that security agencies were fully prepared to safeguard the election.
“We have conducted simulations to ensure readiness. The state will be heavily secured to prevent violence or disruption,” he said, adding that a show of force would take place on the eve of the election and that identified flashpoints would be preemptively raided.
He also stated that roads would be closed on election eve, allowing only accredited persons to move freely, while the military would secure boundary towns and police personnel would provide protection at collation centres.
Earlier, the Convener of the Situation Room, Mr Y. Z. Ya’u, said the dialogue provided an avenue for civil society organisations to assess INEC’s preparedness, stressing that credible elections are vital to Nigeria’s democratic consolidation.
The 8 November Anambra governorship election comes amid heightened political and security tensions in the South-East and is expected to test the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) technological systems — particularly the BVAS and INEC Result Viewing Portal — following mixed outcomes during the 2023 general elections.
