Preparations for the Anambra 2025 Governorship Election: Voter Registration and INEC Updates
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is actively preparing for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025. A crucial aspect of this preparation is ensuring an accurate and up-to-date voter register. INEC recently concluded a voter registration exercise in Anambra State, resulting in a significant increase in the number of registered voters. This exercise, conducted between July 8 and 20, 2025, saw 168,187 citizens applying to register as new voters. Following the established legal procedures, INEC displayed the list of new registrants for public scrutiny, allowing for claims and objections. This transparency aims to maintain the integrity of the voter register and ensure that only eligible citizens are included.
The data collected during the registration exercise was then subjected to rigorous scrutiny using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). This technological tool effectively identified and eliminated 27,817 cases of duplicate or multiple registrations, further enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the voter roll. After this crucial cleaning-up process, the final number of valid new registrants was determined to be 140,370. In addition to new registrations, INEC also processed and approved 5,983 applications for voter transfers into Anambra State. These transfers reflect the dynamic nature of the electorate and accommodate citizens who have relocated to the state.
The combined effect of new registrations and approved transfers resulted in a substantial increase in the total number of registered voters in Anambra State. Prior to the registration exercise, the state had 2,656,437 registered voters. The addition of 146,353 new voters (140,370 new registrations plus 5,983 transfers) brought the updated total to 2,802,790 registered voters. This updated voter register reflects the current electoral landscape of Anambra State and forms the basis for the upcoming governorship election.
INEC has provided a detailed breakdown of the voter distribution across the state’s various local government areas. This breakdown reveals interesting insights into voter concentration and demographics. Idemili North emerged as the local government area with the highest number of registered voters, boasting 246,318 voters, representing 8.79% of the total registered voters in the state. Awka South followed closely with 216,611 voters (7.73%), and Ogbaru came in third with 188,016 voters (6.71%). On the other end of the spectrum, Dunokofia and Anambra West recorded the lowest number of registered voters, with 83,580 (2.98%) and 71,332 (2.55%) respectively. This distribution data provides valuable information for election planning and resource allocation.
INEC has also assured all registered voters, including new registrants and those who applied for transfers or replacements, that their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be ready for collection well in advance of the November 8 election. This assurance is crucial for ensuring that all eligible voters can exercise their franchise without any logistical impediments. The timely distribution of PVCs is a vital component of a free, fair, and credible election. INEC has published the full distribution of registered voters across the state’s various local government areas on its official website and other platforms, promoting transparency and accessibility of information.
The Anambra governorship election is one of the off-cycle elections necessitated by court-ordered adjustments to the electoral calendar. These off-cycle elections underscore the importance of INEC’s adaptability and preparedness to conduct elections outside the regular electoral cycle. As part of the preparations for the election, INEC has released the final list of candidates and confirmed the official commencement of campaigns. Sixteen political parties successfully met the submission deadline of May 12, 2025, and will be fielding candidates in the November 8 poll. The stage is now set for a competitive and engaging electoral contest, with voters having a wide range of choices to consider.
