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INEC chairman urges massive voter turnout for tomorrow's Anambra guber
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
07 Nov 2025 02:07 AM
Awka, Anambra – The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, made a passionate appeal for massive voter participation during a press conference held on Thursday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
With the Anambra State governorship election slated for tomorrow Saturday, November 8, 2025, Amupitan emphasized the commission's commitment to delivering a credible, inclusive, and transparent electoral process.
Addressing journalists and stakeholders, the INEC Chairman highlighted a troubling trend of declining voter turnout in past Anambra elections.
"The greatest enemy to Anambra’s democracy is not just external violence but voter apathy," he warned.
Citing historical data, Amupitan noted that voter participation had plummeted from 25.5% in the 2013 governorship election to a mere 10.27% in 2021. He urged every eligible voter in Anambra to "come out and exercise their civic right without fear or favour," stressing that "democracy only thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders."
In a significant update, Amupitan revealed that an impressive 98.80% of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected following an extended collection period.
"This is an excellent result that reflects the commitment of Anambra residents to participate," he said, encouraging those yet to collect their cards to do so before polling day.
Logistical preparations were also a key focus. The Chairman assured that all 5,718 polling units would open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, supported by over 24,000 trained ad hoc personnel and 6,879 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.
Security measures include the deployment of 45,000 police officers, with Amupitan guaranteeing "neutrality" and a zero-tolerance stance on impunity.The inclusion of sign language interpreters, a collaboration with TAFAfrica, was highlighted as a landmark decision to ensure the 3,456 registered voters with disabilities can fully exercise their rights.
This move has been praised as a step toward greater electoral accessibility.
As Anambra prepares for a pivotal election, with 16 candidates vying for the governorship, Professor Amupitan’s closing message was clear: "You have collected your PVCs, security will protect you, and INEC is ready for you. So, come out on Saturday, vote freely, vote peacefully, vote proudly."
The eyes of the nation—and the international community, with 687 EU observers deployed—are now on Anambra.
With the Anambra State governorship election slated for tomorrow Saturday, November 8, 2025, Amupitan emphasized the commission's commitment to delivering a credible, inclusive, and transparent electoral process.
Addressing journalists and stakeholders, the INEC Chairman highlighted a troubling trend of declining voter turnout in past Anambra elections.
"The greatest enemy to Anambra’s democracy is not just external violence but voter apathy," he warned.
Citing historical data, Amupitan noted that voter participation had plummeted from 25.5% in the 2013 governorship election to a mere 10.27% in 2021. He urged every eligible voter in Anambra to "come out and exercise their civic right without fear or favour," stressing that "democracy only thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders."
In a significant update, Amupitan revealed that an impressive 98.80% of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected following an extended collection period.
"This is an excellent result that reflects the commitment of Anambra residents to participate," he said, encouraging those yet to collect their cards to do so before polling day.
Logistical preparations were also a key focus. The Chairman assured that all 5,718 polling units would open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, supported by over 24,000 trained ad hoc personnel and 6,879 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.
Security measures include the deployment of 45,000 police officers, with Amupitan guaranteeing "neutrality" and a zero-tolerance stance on impunity.The inclusion of sign language interpreters, a collaboration with TAFAfrica, was highlighted as a landmark decision to ensure the 3,456 registered voters with disabilities can fully exercise their rights.
This move has been praised as a step toward greater electoral accessibility.
As Anambra prepares for a pivotal election, with 16 candidates vying for the governorship, Professor Amupitan’s closing message was clear: "You have collected your PVCs, security will protect you, and INEC is ready for you. So, come out on Saturday, vote freely, vote peacefully, vote proudly."
The eyes of the nation—and the international community, with 687 EU observers deployed—are now on Anambra.
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