…INEC is fully prepared and committed to conducting a credible and peaceful election.”
The iNews Times | Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday began distributing both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to various local government areas in Anambra State ahead of the governorship election slated for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The exercise, held at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branch in Awka, was supervised by the INEC State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Awgu, under tight security.
Party agents, civil society representatives, and security personnel were on hand to observe the process and ensure transparency in the movement of the materials.
According to INEC, the sensitive materials distributed included the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Forms EC8A, and Forms EC8B, which would be dispatched to the various Registration Area Centres (RACs) ahead of election day.
Speaking to journalists during the distribution exercise, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Awgu said the early deployment of materials was aimed at ensuring that voting would commence on time across Anambra State.
She urged residents to come out and exercise their civic rights, saying, “We encourage everyone to participate in this election. Do not stay at home thinking your vote won’t count, and don’t assume your preferred candidate has already won. INEC is fully prepared and committed to conducting a credible and peaceful election.”
Awgu further noted that party agents and security personnel jointly monitored the distribution of sensitive materials to guarantee transparency. “We have been at the CBN since 9 a.m., and the process has been smooth, with no issues or complaints. This demonstrates our readiness and determination to deliver a free, fair, and credible election,” she added.
Awgu stated that INEC had undertaken extensive preparations in partnership with political parties, security agencies, and civil society organisations to ensure the conduct of a free, fair, transparent, and credible election.
She explained that the three categories of sensitive materials are the BVAS devices, Forms EC8A, and Forms EC8B, were being transported to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) for final deployment ahead of the election.
In a related development, the Commissioner of Police overseeing election security in Anambra, Abayomi Shogunle, announced an increase in the number of security personnel deployed for the poll from 45,000 to 55,000 officers.
According to Shogunle, the move is aimed at ensuring the safety of voters, electoral officials, and materials across the 21 local government areas of the state.
He said, “The increase in security personnel is not intended to intimidate voters but to strengthen our operational capacity and guarantee safety at all polling units. We want every eligible voter to feel confident and secure enough to cast their vote.”
Shogunle added that the personnel would be drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Immigration Service, NDLEA, DSS, and other sister agencies, with at least three security officers assigned to each polling unit.
“We assure the people of Anambra that the election will be free, fair, and transparent, without any form of intimidation. Our collective goal is to safeguard voters, INEC staff, and all stakeholders throughout the electoral process,” he affirmed.
Therefore, he encouraged Ndi Anambra to come out in their numbers on Saturday, 8th November, 2025 to elect their preferred candidate from all the political parties that will participate in the election. he also admonished them to shun crime and avoid any form of violence during the election, as anyone caught disrupting the election process will be dealt with and face the full rut of the law.
Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday’s Anambra governorship election, Yiaga Africa, in partnership with foreign observers and civil society groups, has deployed 687 election monitors across the state.
