By AnchorNews Political Desk

8th November 2025, Awka

No fewer than 2.8 million voters are set to decide who governs Anambra State for the next four years in what marks the first election under INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who assumed office on October 23. Observers have described the poll as a crucial test of INEC’s ability to conduct free, fair, and credible elections under the new leadership.

According to INEC, 2,802,790 registered voters, including 140,370 newly registered citizens across 326 wards, are eligible to vote. Major political parties contesting the governorship include the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Young Progressives Party (YPP), alongside 11 other smaller parties.

All 5,718 polling units were scheduled to open at 8:30 am, supported by 6,879 BVAS devices and over 24,000 trained ad hoc staff. Sensitive and non-sensitive election materials were distributed across the state under heavy security supervision led by Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Queen Awgu.

In preparation for the polls, the Anambra State Police Command imposed a total restriction on vehicular movement from 12am to 6pm to prevent political thuggery and election-related disruptions. Exceptions were made for INEC officials, accredited journalists, medical personnel, emergency responders, and essential service providers. Security presence has been intensified across the state, with the number of deployed officers increased from 45,000 to 55,000, supported by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Benjamin Okolo.

Election monitoring groups such as Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) and Yiaga Africa have flagged concerns over declining voter participation. KDI reported a 58% drop in voter turnout over the last eight years, attributing the decline to voter apathy, insecurity, and logistical challenges, particularly in riverine and hard-to-reach areas in Anambra North. LGAs such as Anambra East, Anambra West, and Ogbaru have been identified as areas needing special attention to avoid low participation.

Yiaga Africa also identified Orumba North, Orumba South, Ogbaru, Ihiala, Nnewi South, and Aguata as potential security hotspots requiring strategic intelligence-led deployment of security personnel to prevent electoral disruptions.

Political parties have expressed confidence in INEC but remain cautious. The APC Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukaife, warned against the use of non-state actors, while APGA’s Ejimofor Opara emphasized high voter turnout, aiming for at least one million votes from the 2.8 million registered voters.

Residents were observed making last-minute preparations, shopping in markets, refueling vehicles, and booking hotels ahead of the election. Despite the rush, the atmosphere remained calm and peaceful, with security operatives visibly deployed across key locations.

The election battleground is expected to be Anambra North, where the YPP candidate, Sir Paul Chukwuma, is the only local contender, while Anambra Central and Anambra South will witness fierce competition among major candidates, including Soludo (APGA), Ukachukwu (APC), Moghalu (LP), and Nwosu (ADC).

As voting begins, stakeholders are calling for peaceful participation, adherence to electoral rules, and respect for voters’ rights to ensure a credible outcome for the 2025 Anambra governorship election.