The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has assured Nigerians that the commission is taking immediate steps to address network challenges recorded during the recent mock accreditation exercise in Anambra State.
The mock exercise, held over the weekend in selected parts of the state, was part of INEC’s preparation ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship election.
Speaking on Tuesday at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja, Amupitan said the commission is “fully prepared” for the election and determined to ensure a smooth, credible, and transparent process.
“Although we experienced some network issues during the mock accreditation, we are making every effort to ensure a seamless process on November 8. INEC is ready for full-scale deployment on Election Day,” he said.
The INEC chairman disclosed that the commission will deploy 24,000 personnel across 5,718 polling units, with two polling units excluded due to the absence of registered voters. Results, he added, will be collated at 326 ward centres, 21 local government area centres, and the state collation centre in Awka.
Amupitan, who chaired his first ICCES meeting since assuming office, reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
“This marks a new chapter for INEC. I remain personally committed to delivering elections that are free, fair, and truly reflect the will of the people,” he said.
Following reports that only 63.9% of registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the commission announced an extension of the collection period from Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2, 2025, to ensure more voters are not disenfranchised.
“We are determined that no eligible voter should be left out of the process,” Amupitan added.
He commended security agencies for their continued support and collaboration, noting that coordinated deployments and patrols would guarantee a peaceful atmosphere before, during, and after the poll.
“Synergy among all security agencies is essential, especially at this critical time when the credibility of our elections is paramount,” he stressed.
The INEC boss also revealed that the commission had finalized arrangements with transport unions — including the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) — for logistics support.
“We have engaged 200 buses and 83 boats to ensure smooth movement of election officials and sensitive materials,” he said.
Amupitan further warned against vote buying and voter inducement, emphasizing INEC’s partnership with law enforcement and anti-graft agencies to tackle electoral malpractice.
“Any attempt to induce voters before or during the election will be resisted and punished. We must all unite to defeat the menace of vote buying and uphold democratic values,” he said.
The meeting, co-chaired by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, brought together senior security, intelligence, and law enforcement officials to finalize security arrangements for a hitch-free election.
Amupitan concluded by expressing optimism that the Anambra governorship election would set a new benchmark for electoral integrity in Nigeria.
“The road ahead may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve,” he said.
INEC disclosed that about 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election, with 11 out of 13 pre-election activities already completed. The remaining include the conclusion of political campaigns on November 6 and the governorship election on November 8, 2025.
