The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has expressed concern that the endorsement of governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State by the Joint Transporter Forum could undermine perceptions of neutrality in the November 8 governorship election, owing to the role they play in conveying sensitive and non-sensitive materials during elections.

KDI said since INEC relies heavily on these unions —NURTW, RTEAN, Keke, Okada, and Bus Unions — for material transportation, their partisan alignment could undermine perceptions of neutrality, risk delays, and erode public confidence in the process.

Bukola Idowu, Executive Director, expressed the organisation’s concern at a pre-election briefing held in Akwa on Friday.

“The endorsement of the incumbent governor by the Joint Transporter Forum, comprising NURTW, RTEAN, Keke, Okada, and Bus Unions, raises a significant logistical red flag,” KDI worries.

INEC’s Preparedness

The KDI, while noting that INEC has largely demonstrated logistical readiness, some operational gaps persist.

“KDI’s comparative analysis of INEC’s preparedness for the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election against the 2024 Ondo Off-Cycle Election reveals a mixed outlook on operational readiness. 

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“The training of ad-hoc officials concluded only on November 6, 2025, two days before the election, compared to a timelier completion in Ondo 2024 left no room for mock drills or refresher sessions, limiting INEC’s ability to evaluate the competence of ad-hoc personnel and replace unfit or unavailable staff ahead of election day.”

The CSO, however, commended INEC for the  “continuous engagement with stakeholders and improvements in technology usage, particularly through the BVAS and IREV platforms,” saying that it “remains positive indicators that, if effectively managed, can mitigate these risks and enhance the credibility of the process.”

Pre-election Observation, Warning

KDI observed that voter turnout in Anambra has fallen by over 58% in the last eight years, attributing this decline to insecurity, logistical and geographical challenges, warning that “special attention must then be paid to these areas lest Anambra risks experiencing another historically low voter turnout in tomorrow’s governorship election.

“Despite consistent growth in voter registration.It will appear that voter turnout is falling at the same rate at which voter registration was growing. This means that while more citizens are registering to vote, fewer are turning out on election day, a troubling trend that points to deepening voter apathy and declining trust in the electoral process.”

READ ALSO:Anambra Poll: INEC Begins Distribution Of Election Materials

On intolerance during election, KDI said while the overall security risk across the state remains moderate, several localized flashpoints persist in areas historically prone to electoral tension, political rivalry, and voter intimidation.

“The analysis identifies Aguata and Ihiala as severe-risk areas, with a high likelihood of violence or disruption on election day. 

“Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ogbaru are categorized as high-risk LGAs, while the remaining local governments are assessed as being at a moderate risk level. 

“In practical terms, this means that LGAs classified as severe or high risk face a greater probability of experiencing election-related disturbances, ranging from logistical delays and voter suppression to violent clashes, unless proactive measures are taken. 

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“Conversely, moderate-risk areas could be relatively peaceful, provided preventive actions are maintained and early warning signals are properly addressed.”

KDI, therefore, urged security agencies to uphold professionalism, neutrality, and restraint in their election-day operations.

“Security deployments should prioritize visible but non-intimidating presence in identified flashpoints, timely intelligence sharing, and rapid response coordination to ensure the safety of voters, election officials, and materials across all 21 LGAs,” KDI noted.

KDI, however, expressed optimism of a largely peaceful election, just as it emphasized that the “credibility of the process will depend on timely deployment, transparent procedures, and restraint by political actors and their supporters.”

The CSO also called on eligible voters to come out peacefully, exercise their civic rights, and resist any attempt to disrupt the process or sell their votes.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has described the November 8 Anambra governorship election as a litmus test for the new INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, and a crucial test of Nigeria’s democratic resilience and institutional credibility.

CDD Africa made this remarks in Akwa on Friday at its pre-election briefing and opening of its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC).

CDD-West Africa, while calling on INEC “to maintain neutrality and ensure seamless electoral processes, in the November 8 election,” noted that while INEC has taken commendable steps to improve logistics and planning, “confidence remains fragile.”

It urged the electoral umpire to deploy voting materials timely, and ensure BVAS/IReV function smoothly .

It also urged security agencies to protect citizens “without intimidation or selective enforcement,” and appealed to political parties to “shun vote buying and commit to peaceful conduct.”

CDD West Africa further called on civil society and the media to amplify factual information and promote inclusive participation, while encouraging citizens to come out and exercise their democratic right to vote.

READ ALSO:Off-season Elections: Vote Buying, Violence Remain Sore Points – CDD

“With the CDD Election Analysis Centre (EAC) now fully operational, our disinformation experts will be working throughout the period to monitor, fact-check, and respond to emerging narratives,” the organisation said.

“The 2025 Anambra Governorship election is more than a sub-national election,” CDD-West Africa declared.

“We call on all actors to prioritise national interest, protect democratic integrity, and ensure a peaceful, credible and inclusive election,” it said.

Pre-election Observation

The CDD West Africa raised concerns over low electoral competitiveness, predictable voter apathy, and the fragility of key institutions ahead of the governorship election.

READ ALSO:Ondo Election: Explain Discrepancies in Final Result, CDD Charges INEC

The CSO criticised political parties for their inability to mobilise and sensitise voters, saying that internal crises within major parties have weakened electoral competitiveness in the state.

On Security, CDD West Africa warned that weak oversight of vigilante groups and a history of violence particularly in Ihiala, Nnewi South, Orumba South, and border communities such as Lilu, Azia, and Amorka, could lead to low voter turnout, urging security agencies to “act professionally and protect voters without bias.”

On incumbency and federal influence, the organisation observed that the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the incumbent governor benefit from visibility advantages, new political alignments, and control over state influence channels.

It referenced the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency’s (ANSAA) June 11, 2025 announcement imposing a N50 million permit fee for political parties’ billboard and outdoor campaigns, saying the policy “limits access for different political parties and increases campaign costs,” despite the N1 billion campaign spending cap under Section 88(2) of the 2022 Electoral Act.

On misinformation, CDD-West Africa raised the alarm over the state’s information environment, identifying widespread misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech as major threats to the election’s integrity.

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The organisation’s assessment found “unequal access to information, gender-specific vulnerabilities, inadequate stakeholder preparedness, and persistent electoral risks.”

The CDD identified seven dominant patterns of information manipulation viz: targeting of security institutions with partisan bias claims, exploitation of religious divides, manipulation of political endorsement narratives, weaponisation of insecurity and “unknown gunmen” narratives, distortion of Igbo campaign statements, narratives questioning INEC’s competence, and gendered hate speech aimed at discouraging women’s participation.

According to the CDD, “This is another opportunity for the two million, eight hundred and two thousand, seven hundred and ninety (2,802,790) registered voters in the state to make their voices heard in electing the next state governor.”

It noted that despite INEC’s report of a 98.8 percent Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection rate, the group expressed concern that this might not translate into high voter turnout.

The group, while lamenting continued exclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) from the political space, noted that “only two women are contesting, both from minor parties,” while there are “no PWD candidates” and polling accessibility remains poor.

The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has openly expressed its support for the leadership of Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro (Ph.D.) as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

The body, made up of Ijaw media owners across the Niger Delta region, said Otuaro administration has revived confidence, restored focus, and repositioned the programme for the genuine empowerment of Niger Deltans.

Addressing a press conference in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday, the President of IPF, Comrade Austin Ozobo, said since his appointment in March 2024, Chief Otuaro has demonstrated clarity of purpose, measurable achievements, and dedication to service.

Ozobo, flanked by other executives of the body, said “as journalists of conscience, we commend and defend good leadership wherever it is found, especially among Ijaw sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in service,” stressing that “our allegiance is to the truth, the people, and the progress of the Niger Delta.”

READ ALSO:IPF Commends Tompolo’s Commitment To Security In Delta, Nigeria

The IPF President, while noting that lending “our voice in support of any public office holder is not out of sentiment, politics, or personal gain, but out of an objective recognition of results, integrity, and purposeful leadership,” said under Otuaro leadership, “PAP has moved beyond mere stipend payments to ex-agitators and launched broader human capital development interventions.”

Ozobo said Otuaro is concerned in “giving the programme a human face… developed for the people of the Niger Delta for a better future,” adding that “he has consistently called for stakeholder inclusion, including women’s participation in the peace process for the Niger Delta.”

“He has reaffirmed the programme’s mandate of promoting sustainable peace, security, and development in the Niger Delta region. Strategic Repositioning of PAP:

“These are not symbolic gestures alone — they reflect a strategic repositioning of PAP to deliver tangible value, particularly through education, vocational training, and stakeholder engagement for communities long impacted by militancy, environmental degradation, and underdevelopment,” he said.

READ ALSO:IPF Wants NDDC MD Ogbuku, Others Probed

Ozobo, who called on all and sundry to support Otuaro in his bid to actualising the aims and objectives of the PAP in the region, urged critics to see the good things the current PAP administration is doing, and if they want to criticize to be constructive rather than “destructive opposition.”

He added: “Genuine criticism and oversight are welcomed — but what we are witnessing in certain quarters are attempts to undermine a capable, reform-minded leader through misdirection, misinformation, and vested-interest campaigns.”

He, therefore, called on “all arms of government — federal, state, and local — to give PAP the institutional backing it needs to fulfil its mandate. The region deserves no less.”