The Electoral Hub, an Initiative for Research, Innovation, and Advocacy in Development, has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission for notable advancements recorded during the Anambra governorship election.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of the Electoral Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels, commended the Commission for demonstrating greater professionalism, transparency, and efficiency in logistics management.
According to Hamman-Obels, the election marked a significant improvement over previous exercises, especially in the areas of result transmission, logistics coordination, and inclusivity.
“As an accredited observer and civil society organisation committed to promoting electoral knowledge, accountability, inclusion, and integrity, the Electoral Hub monitored the process from pre-election preparations to post-election activities.
“We commend INEC for the relative professionalism and transparency demonstrated throughout the electoral process,” she stated.
The director explained that the organisation observed several positive developments that enhanced the integrity of the election.
Among these, she highlighted INEC’s strict adherence to the election timetable, noting that the Commission followed its official schedule closely, reflecting a high level of readiness and compliance with the law.
Hamman-Obels noted that voting commenced promptly at 8:30 a.m. in most polling stations, contributing to an orderly process, while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System functioned efficiently.
She revealed that the BVAS achieved a 99.62 per cent result upload rate to the INEC Result Viewing Portal by 9:15 a.m. on November 9, and praised INEC’s ad-hoc officials, including National Youth Service Corps members, for their professionalism and adherence to guidelines.
She added that result collation was conducted transparently from the ward to the state level, leading to the declaration of Prof.
Chukwuma Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance as winner with 422,664 votes, ahead of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress, who scored 99,445 votes.
The Electoral Hub director also pointed out that voters with disabilities were adequately supported with braille materials, magnifying glasses, and sign language interpreters at 25 polling stations.
Similarly, women, including pregnant voters, were given priority in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
Despite these successes, Hamman-Obels observed that certain challenges affected the credibility and inclusiveness of the exercise.
She noted that the N50 million campaign permit fee imposed by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency created an uneven playing field that favoured wealthier political parties, particularly the ruling APGA.
Additionally, she condemned the killing of a local councillor in Orumba South Local Government Area, which underscored persistent security concerns. She also lamented reports of vote-buying at several polling units, where payments allegedly ranged from N3,000 to N20,000 per voter.
Hamman-Obels further expressed concern over the low voter turnout, noting that only 21.4 per cent of registered voters participated in the election, reflecting ongoing voter apathy and disillusionment.
She stressed that although the Anambra election showcased measurable progress, it still took place within the broader context of Nigeria’s democratic decline.
“The 2025 Anambra Governorship Election shows how credible, transparent, and participatory elections can be achieved when all stakeholders unite around their shared responsibility to protect electoral accountability and integrity,” she said.
The director encouraged Nigerians to remain actively engaged in the democratic process and to continue demanding transparency and accountability from electoral institutions, political leaders, and government officials.
Reaffirming the Electoral Hub’s commitment to promoting electoral education, inclusion, and accountability, Hamman-Obels called for ongoing collaboration among INEC, political parties, civil society groups, the media, and the legislature to strengthen democratic governance.
“This is an imperative to cultivating an electoral environment that is free, fair, transparent, and conducive to robust democratic participation.
“Importantly, sustained engagement and collaboration among stakeholders are critical for building a resilient democracy that guarantees every citizen’s rights while promoting strong, effective governance,” she added.
Hamman-Obels urged all stakeholders and citizens to continue strengthening accountability mechanisms and to collectively safeguard the sanctity and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
