INEC Reaffirms Commitment to Credible Elections
As Acting Chairman May Agbamuche-Mbu Engages Political Party Leaders on 2025 Electoral Calendar
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INEC Reaffirms Commitment to Credible Elections
As Acting Chairman May Agbamuche-Mbu Engages Political Party Leaders on 2025 Electoral Calendar
By Akin Alade
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has once again restated its unwavering commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections across Nigeria. This assurance came from the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, during the third quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties, held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
The meeting, which is part of INEC’s tradition of continuous engagement with key stakeholders, brought together the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), chairmen of registered political parties, national commissioners, senior officials of the Commission, and members of the INEC Press Corps.
Agbamuche-Mbu, who recently assumed office following the exit of former Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, used the platform to reflect on Yakubu’s remarkable tenure and reaffirm the Commission’s readiness to sustain his legacy of innovation, institutional strength, and integrity.
> “Prof. Yakubu bowed out gracefully, leaving behind a solid foundation built on credibility and transparency,” she noted. “The Commission remains committed to building on that foundation and deepening our democracy through credible elections.”
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Countdown to Anambra Governorship Election
With the Anambra State Governorship Election only weeks away — scheduled for November 8, 2025 — the Acting Chairman assured political parties that preparations are well advanced.
According to her, out of the 13 key activities outlined in the election timetable, 10 have already been completed. The remaining include the publication of the Notice of Poll (October 25), the final day for campaigns (November 6), and the election day itself (November 8).
> “We are strictly adhering to our timetable,” Agbamuche-Mbu emphasized. “All non-sensitive materials have been delivered to Anambra State, voter education and sensitization are ongoing, and security agencies at all levels are fully engaged.”
She urged political parties to respect the campaign timeline and uphold the spirit of peaceful and issue-based politics as the election draws near.
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FCT Area Council Elections and Beyond
Beyond Anambra, INEC is also gearing up for several key elections in the coming months. These include the Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on February 21, 2026, and the Ekiti and Osun Governorship Elections in June and August 2026, respectively.
The FCT elections, covering 68 constituencies across six Area Councils—Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali—will see voters elect council chairmen and councillors in 62 wards. Out of the 13 activities on the FCT election timetable, eight have been completed, with others progressing steadily.
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Continuous Voter Registration Gains Momentum
The Acting Chairman also gave an update on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which resumed nationwide in August 2025. Online pre-registration began on August 18, followed by in-person registration on August 25 at all state and local government offices of the Commission.
The CVR will run for one year, ending on August 30, 2026. According to INEC, the public response so far has been encouraging — a reflection of growing faith in the democratic process.
> “The enthusiasm of Nigerians shows their trust in the Commission and their belief in the power of their votes,” she said, adding that weekly updates of registration figures are published on INEC’s website.
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New Political Parties on the Horizon
Agbamuche-Mbu also revealed that the Commission had received 171 applications from groups seeking registration as political parties. After thorough assessment based on constitutional and legal provisions, 14 associations met the necessary requirements to proceed to the next stage.
“These details,” she noted, “have been made public on the Commission’s website for transparency and accountability.”
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Commitment to Democracy and Transparency
Closing her address, the Acting Chairman thanked the political party leaders for their cooperation and reaffirmed INEC’s pledge to conduct all future elections with integrity and openness.
> “We look forward to your continued collaboration in improving the electoral process,” she said. “INEC remains resolute in its mission to strengthen democracy through inclusive, transparent, and credible elections.”
With that assurance, the Commission signaled a clear message — that Nigeria’s democratic journey, though challenging, remains on a steady and hopeful path.
