The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has called on all stakeholders to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible process in the November 7 Anambra governorship election.

Speaking at a pre- election briefing held in Awka, the CTA Lead, Expert Team for the Anambra State Governorship Election, Prof. Alex Asigbo, and the Executive Director of the CTA, Faith Nwadishi, reiterated the organization’s commitment to electoral integrity and citizen participation.

Prof. Asigbo noted that citizens of Anambra have high hopes for the forthcoming polls, inspired by “the promises and the incremental improvements witnessed during other off-season elections made possible with the introduction of technological innovations into the electoral process.”

He recalled that these innovations were also deployed during the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections, which, according to him, “energized a new layer of Nigerians, especially the youths, who became politically active in a manner never witnessed in the political history of the country.”

The CTA, which has been actively involved in election observation since its inception, announced that it would deploy 50 trained observers across the 21 local government areas of Anambra State.

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These observers will provide real-time reports from polling stations, giving the organization firsthand information about election-day developments.

He disclosed that “the CTA, in collaboration with the Koyenum Immalah Foundation (KIF), had successfully implemented a voter enlightenment and education programme in Orumba South Local Government Area between September 15 and 30, 2025.

“The programme aimes at sensitizing citizens on their electoral rights and responsibilities, promoting peaceful participation, discouraging malpractices such as vote buying and rigging, and motivating increased voter turnout ahead of the November 8 gubernatorial election.

“As Ndi Anambra goes to the polls again tomorrow,” Asigbo said, “we want to call the attention of all and sundry to the following important issues.”

He emphasized the need for efficient logistical arrangements by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging that “the hiccups that always mar our elections should not for any reason rear its ugly head during the governorship election on Saturday.”

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He added that all arrangements for the movement of personnel and materials must be “topnotch.”

He commended INEC for initiating the sanction of errant officials in previous elections but insisted that “more electoral officers and ad hoc staff should be sanctioned if found wanting in this election.

“Integrity should be the watchword for INEC staff. Ndi Anambra do not expect anything less.”

He also emphasized that Electoral Officers in the local government areas “must be on top of their game by promptly mobilizing members of the NURTW to move personnel and materials to polling units in good time.”

On security, the CTA expressed concern about potential flashpoints in areas such as Orumba South, Ihiala, and Ogbaru, calling for “better synergy between security agencies across board to ensure safety of citizens, INEC personnel and materials before, during and after the elections.”

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The organization further encouraged citizens to come out in large numbers, describing the election as very important. “We call on citizens to shun vote buying and trading. They should come out in their numbers to exercise their franchise,”
Nwadishi stated, urging voters to conduct themselves “with utmost decorum while ensuring that their votes count.”

Addressing the issue of misinformation, the CTA warned against the spread of fake news on social media, noting that “fake news hatched by unscrupulous elements to distort information and create chaos are often spread through the social media.”

The CTA also cautioned politicians against money politics and vote buying, which it described as “a negative use of money to influence votes including the criminal purchases of PVCs by politicians.”

The organization called for “a more result-oriented method like covert operations” by law enforcement agencies to curb the menace, suggesting that “an early warning flagging by the Central Bank and commercial institutions will as well alert anti-graft agencies to track illicit money intended to usurp the wills of the people.”

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), has released its preliminary observation in the November 8 Anambra State governorship election, lamenting that voting buying was prominent in Anambra Central and South senatorial districts.

The CDD said these “multiple incidents of vote buying and trading,” often “carried out in full view of voters and officials, directly undermined the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.”

In a preliminary assessment statement read by Professor Victor Adetula, Chair,
CDD-West Africa Election Analysis Centre, during a press briefing in Akwa, said in some instances, party agents used money transfer platforms rather than direct cash payments to complete the transactions.

“In Awka South, Anambra Central, and in Nnewi North LGA, vote buying was observed in high-density polling clusters, including Nodu Village Hall 1 (PU 009, 2,780 registered voters), Nodu Hall 2 (PU 010, 1,983 voters), and Ezinifitte Hall 2 (PU 008, 3,352 voters) and Nibo 002 Maternity I. Voters were seen participating in “vote-and-snap” behavior taking pictures of their marked ballots, likely as proof of compliance in exchange for financial incentives.”

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He added: “Party agents offered voters up to ₦10,000 and ₦5,000, depending on the location. For example, in PU 005, Achina Ward 3, and in Aguata LGA, opposite PU 012, Ward 1, agents distributed ₦5,000 and ₦2,000 payments to voters.”

According to the CDD, despite “strong interest shown by youth during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) period, turnout among young voters on election day was visibly low, especially in urban centres such as Awka and Onitsha.”

The CDD said the “contributing factors appeared to include disillusionment with the political process, logistical delays, and perceived lack of impact.”

The CDD lamented that “Women, particularly female candidates, continued to face voter apathy and discriminatory behaviour,” adding that “observers recorded instances where female candidates were subjected to dismissive or sexist commentary at polling units, reinforcing the cultural and institutional barriers to women’s political participation.”

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“Accessibility for persons with disabilities remained limited in several areas, including Onitsha North and Idemili South LGAs.

“Despite INEC’s public commitment to inclusion, observers reported that many polling units lacked wheelchair access, signage for the visually impaired, or priority voting arrangements.”

On security, the CDD said it observers “observed a high concentration of security officials, media and election observers in polling units associated with popular political figures,” noting that “in contrast, polling units with fewer registered voters showed inadequate security coverage, which aligns with the 12.7% of PUs that had no security personnel present.”

“The absence of law enforcement in these units exposed electoral officials and voters to potential risks and created space for political interference.

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“This disparity in deployment raises concerns about strategic allocation of security resources, especially in rural polling units.

“While the overall security coverage was sufficient in most areas, the lack of consistent deployment risks undermines electoral integrity and public trust.

“All polling units, regardless of size or location, require adequate and competent security coverage to safeguard the voting process and ensure that all voters can participate without fear or interference,” CDD advocated.

On BVAS, the CDD said “in 78.9% of polling units, a single BVAS device was deployed, while 18% had two machines available, and 1.5% reported having more than two devices.

“Our observers also noted that in 96.2% of polling units, the BVAS machines correctly displayed the required zero count before the commencement of accreditation.”

A coalition of election monitoring civil society organisations has released a preliminary assessment of the November 8 Anambra State governorship election, focusing on deployment of election materials
and personnel, accreditation and voting, as well as inclusivity and
accessibility, amongst others.

The coalition, referred to as Anambra Election Observation Hub,
comprised of Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press
Centre (IPC), Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Nigeria
Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER, and TAF Africa.

Addressing journalists in Akwa on behalf of other partners, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, said the coalition jointly deployed 711 citizen observers across the 21 LGAs of the state, Each organization leads on a specific thematic pillar, including election integrity, results verification, election security, disability inclusion, gender participation, peacebuilding, misinformation tracking, and media safety.

He described the election as generally peaceful with a secure environment, adding that election officials and security personnel in polling units displayed
professionalism and adequate knowledge of electoral procedures.

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According to him,
while electoral materials were deployed as scheduled
in most polling units, some logistical challenges, such as delays in the arrival of materials
and election personnel, were recorded, adding that these led to the late commencement of polls
in some polling units.

He said BVAS, register of voters, voting cubicle, and Indelible Ink were present in 100% of polling
units observed, noting that election materials like the PWD Voter information and Statistics
Form (Form EC 40H) were seen in 86% of polling units, and PWD Poster (Form EC 30E) in
84% of polling units.

“Additionally, 5% of the polling units had two or more BVAS devices deployed. However,
in 3% of polling units, the BVAS accreditation count were not displayed to voters before
accreditation commenced. This procedural oversight could undermine transparency and
affect voter confidence in the integrity of the accreditation process,” he added.

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He said “notable gaps in security coverage were also recorded. In some polling units,
such as PU 014, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi LGA, voting commenced without the presence of any security personnel. Such security gaps expose polling units to potential disputes,
intimidation, or electoral malpractice, especially in politically tense or high-stakes areas.
It also questions the accuracy of the 55,000 security personnel deployed for the election
as reported by the security agencies.”

Itodo, however, decried the prevalent of vote buying in the election, saying “these acts undermine the
integrity of the election.”

The Yiaga Africa ED, while calling for an urgent enforcement of electoral laws to deter vote buying and selling at election, noted: “In some instances, political agents adopted new and covert strategies to perpetrate vote buying.

“We received reports of party agents recording the details of voters for post-voting financial inducement. POS machines were also deployed at or near polling units to facilitate financial transactions in exchange for votes.”