The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured voters that the forthcoming Anambra governorship election will go off without a hitch, despite minor network faults discovered during a recent mock accreditation exercise.
The commission recently conducted a fake accreditation exercise in the state as part of its efforts to test its Bimodal Voter Authentication System, or BVAS.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the guarantee yesterday in Abuja while addressing the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, or ICCES, at the commission’s headquarters.
The discussion, co-chaired by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and his representative, Mr. Hassan Abdullahi, focused on final security and logistical preparations for the November 8 election.
Amupitan, who presided over his first ICCES meeting since taking office, stated that the commission’s week-long readiness assessment in Anambra affirmed that all preparations were in place for a successful exercise.
He said, “Following our comprehensive readiness assessment across the state, INEC is confident of its full preparedness for the polls.
“Although we encountered some network challenges during the mock accreditation exercise in 12 polling units, efforts are underway to ensure a seamless election on November 8. We are ready for large-scale deployment.”
According to him, INEC will send approximately 24,000 staff to 5,718 of the state’s 5,720 polling units, as voting will not take place in two units where there are no registered voters.
The results will be compiled at 326 ward centers, 21 local government area centers, and finally at the State Collation Center in Awka.
The INEC chairman also remembered the extension of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise in Anambra.
He explained that the decision was made in response to indications that just 63.9% of registered voters had obtained their cards.
“To ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised, the Commission has extended PVC collection in Anambra from October 29 to November 2, 2025,” Amupitan said.
