The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Anambra State fully prepared for the upcoming governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
The statement came after a weeklong readiness assessment tour led by a high-level delegation from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The delegation, led by Rhoda Gumus, National Commissioner for Election Planning and Monitoring, completed a thorough review of facilities, logistics, and security arrangements throughout the state.
The squad consisted of National Commissioners Sam Olumekun, Kenneth Ukeagu, and Baba Bila.
Victoria Eta-Messi, editor-in-chief and director of voter education and publicity, revealed these facts in a daily bulletin issued Monday.
According to the bulletin, the team landed in Awka on October 21 and met with the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State, Queen Elizabeth Agwu, as well as the State Management Team.
According to the bulletin, their objective was to “ensure that every logistical, security, and operational element required for the election was not only in place but also in working order.”
The crew evaluated ongoing activities in numerous local government areas, including Dunukofia and Oyi, where non-sensitive goods were being deployed.
They also monitored the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards and spoke with the voters. Gumus urged patience and cooperation, stressing that every qualified voter would be accommodated.
Separate meetings with electoral officers from the 21 local governments focused on logistics, the early activation of Registration Area Centres, and the deployment of personnel and supplies.
According to the bulletin, Ukeagu emphasized the importance of responsibility by instructing officers to ensure adequate documentation and tracking of all election materials.
“Every vehicle, every ballot, every form must be properly tracked,” he stressed.
Bila, Chairman of the Electoral Operations and Logistics Committee, reminded officials of their responsibilities to protect the commission’s integrity, while Olumekun, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, emphasized professionalism and transparency.
The delegation also met with transport union representatives from the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the National Association of Road Transport Owners, and the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, all of whom are in charge of election day logistics.
INEC reiterated its participation with the unions under the current Memorandum of Understanding.
Ukeagu warned against any breach of agreement and promised fast payments while insisting on full accountability.
Ukeagu stressed, “This is not business as usual. Stick to the agreed vehicles and arrangements. Payment will be prompt, but accountability must be total.”
According to the bulletin, the visit also included a high-level meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Security services, including the police, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the military, offered reports on their operations, stating, “Our goal is simple—peaceful, credible elections across all polling units.”
Agwu praised the partnership between security services, characterizing it as critical to election integrity.
The delegation wrapped up their visit by observing a mock accreditation exercise in Anambra East, where the updated Bimodal Voter Accreditation System was tested.
The gadgets worked well, with Ukeagu claiming that the commission was “99 percent ready” for the polls.
Gumus expressed satisfaction with the overall level of preparedness, stating that INEC, stakeholders, and the Anambra people were all prepared for the election.
National Commissioner Gumus said, “Our visit has shown that Anambra is ready, INEC is ready, and the people are ready. We look forward to delivering an election that will reflect the true will of the electorate.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
