Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has held its third quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at its headquarters in Abuja to review ongoing preparations for upcoming elections, including the Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
The meeting, chaired by Acting INEC Chairman, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, provided updates on key electoral activities and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to credible, inclusive, and transparent elections.
In her address, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu welcomed CSO leaders, national commissioners, senior officials, and members of the press, emphasizing the importance of sustained collaboration between INEC and civil society. She acknowledged the recent exit of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as INEC Chairman on October 7, 2025, commending his legacy of innovation and institutional reform.
The Acting Chairman reported the successful conduct of bye-elections on August 16, 2025, across 12 states, covering two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, nine state assembly seats, and two court-ordered reruns in Enugu and Kano States. Certificates of Return, she said, have been presented to all winners in line with the Electoral Act 2022.
She also outlined progress on upcoming polls:
Anambra Governorship Election – 10 out of 13 preparatory activities completed; Notice of Poll to be published October 25, campaigns to end November 6, and voting on November 8.
FCT Area Council Elections – scheduled for February 21, 2026, covering 68 constituencies, with 8 activities already completed.
Ekiti and Osun Governorship Elections – to hold on June 20 and August 8, 2026 respectively.
On voter participation, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu confirmed that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) resumed on August 18, 2025, online and August 25 in-person, running until August 30, 2026. She expressed satisfaction with turnout, describing it as “a testament to Nigerians’ belief in democracy.”
The Acting Chairman further disclosed that INEC had received 171 applications from associations seeking registration as political parties, with 14 meeting the constitutional requirements to advance to the next stage. Details are available on the Commission’s official website.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), congratulated Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu on her historic appointment as the second woman to lead INEC in an acting capacity.
“We are proud to be associated with your leadership,” Nwagwu said, pledging continued collaboration and calling for focus on the competence and accountability of Resident Electoral Commissioners and electoral officers.
“The quality of sub-national elections hinges on the integrity and capacity of those who administer them,” he added, commending INEC’s commitment to technological and operational reforms.
The meeting later transitioned into a closed-door session to deliberate on electoral readiness and stakeholder inputs.
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