The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) has released its findings on the just concluded Anambra State Governorship Election, calling for strict enforcement of laws that will reduce the “widespread vote buying in our elections.”

Situation Room, in a post-election statement released on Monday, and made available to INFO DAILY, also called on the National Assembly to quickly accelerate pending legislative actions for electoral reforms designed to enhance political participation, improve election management, and effectively address the prosecution of electoral offenses.

The post-election statement was signed by Yunusa Z. Ya’u, Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room; Mimidoo Achakpa, Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, and Franklin Oloniju, Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room.

Situation Room, while adjudging the
2025 Anambra State Governorship election as “largely peaceful,” lamented that it was “marred by what may be attributed to lingering public distrust in public institutions and governance.”

“Many citizens still seemed uninterested in the process and were seen carrying on with their trading in the markets,” Situation Room said.

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The election monitoring CSO, while decrying the low turnout of voters across the state, which it estimated at about 21% of PVCs collected which stood at 2,769,137, said it was, however, “an improvement from the 10% that was recorded in the 2021 Governorship Election.”

“This still calls for deeper reflection on how we can overcome voter apathy and disillusionment with the political process. Situation Room commends Civil Society Organisations for their voter education and mobilization efforts in rural communities ahead of the election particularly its partner, Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) that carried out its sensitization activities in fifteen major markets and in the media,” the organisation said in the statement.

Situation Room, however, expressed worry that “our elections are continually being driven by motivations and actions that are strongly diametrically opposed to the ideals of democracy as a socio-economic political phenomenon that has its origin and destination in the service of the people.”

“Increasingly, the dominant trait of the political class and elites in our country seems to be bordering on a Machiavellian understanding of the end ‘justifies the means’: a dangerous political philosophy that relegates the ideals and fine points of democracy as people-driven to the background. Situation Room insists that the guardrails that help define the democratic experience must not be subverted by the political elites.

“In this regard, Situation Room notes that the ugly phenomenon of vote buying and vote selling, occasioned by the pauperization of the citizens have continued to thrive, and was in full swing during the 2025 Anambra State Governorship election.

READ ALSO:CDD Assesses Anambra Guber Poll, Says Vote Buying Prominent In South, Central

“Situation Room believes that if there is one social dynamic that clearly signals the failure of the political class to relatively deliver on the benefits of democracy, it is the unfortunate and continuous occurrence of vote selling by citizens who are yet to truly connect their living conditions to the activities of those to whom they sell their votes.”

The CSO, while lauding
INEC for a well “managed of its core processes effectively throughout the election,” also commended the election umpire particularly dor the “quick and drama-free results collation process, which was devoid of the irregularities typically associated with INEC’s vote tabulation and score recording at Collation Centres.”

“If this continues in future elections, then it will be a positive and encouraging development in electoral management.”

READ ALSO:AnambraDecides: Let Every Vote Counts, Situation Room Tasks INEC

Situation Room stated that “credible elections remain central to democratic governance and public accountability,” adding: “lessons from the 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election must inform deeper reforms and stronger collaboration among INEC, security agencies, political actors, and civil society to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.

“These lessons must be applied to the upcoming Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as the Ekiti and Osun States Governorship Elections – all to be conducted in 2026.

“There is also a need to take forward conversations on the credibility of the voter’s register, welfare of security agencies and voter apathy in Nigeria’s elections as we head towards the 2027 General elections.”