05/11/2025
IKUKUOMA ATTENDS INEC's CHAIRMAN MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS FOR 2025 ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS
The Stellar Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the three days away Saturday 8th November, 2025 Anamabra State Elections, Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu, MFR, FNIPR, (Ikukuoma Ndigbo), has attended the INEC''s Chairman meeting for 2025 Anambra State Governorship Elections
The meeting held on Tuesday 4th November, 2025 at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, was a high-powered strategic engagement and interactive session, put together by the INEC's National Chairman to discuss, deliberate and analysed the way forward on how best to conduct the Anambra Off-cycle Elections toward making sure that the elections is successful
Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, the INEC Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, who did the welcome and opening address, thanked all stakeholders namely, Political Parties Chairmen, Party Candidates and their Deputies, security agencies (Police, DSS, Civil Defense Corp, etc) for obliging the invitation. She also stated that with other state-level INEC officials of their readiness and that Anambra INEC has “done enough” expecting that the exercise will reflect that hard work.
Meanwhile, Ken N. Ukeagu PhD. Supervising National Commissioner for Anambra State, who also doubles as, Chairman, Tender Board Committee, gave a comprehensive break-down of total number of registered voters in Anambra (2,802,790), number of political Wards (326), number of polling units (5720), and number of RACs (141) in Anambra State. Ukeaga said that elections will not hold in two polling units in Nnewi Town.
The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbemtoko who was ably represented by Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Benjamin Okolo, who reaffirmed categorically, that Non-State Actors like Operation Udo-Ga-Achi, Agunaechemba (Aka-odo) etc, has been procribed from participating in the election, and warned that “it is not business as usual for the Police. They will be more professional, neutral, and anyone engaging in violence will be dealt with accordingly.” He called for political tolerance and urged voters to “vote their conscience without fear. or favour”
However, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, the INEC's National Chairman, addressing the stakeholders stated that in an election, INEC as an electoral umpire can not exist in Isolation, hence, the need to work with all stakeholders to ensure free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and peaceful and successful elections
Prof. Amupitan, reiterated that INEC has completed training and will deploy 24,000 ad-hoc staff for Anambra’s 5,718 polling units, supported by 6,879 BVAS machines with additional 400 BVAS machines. He emphasised: “This is not about INEC alone; it is about the growth and development of Anambra State. The greatest challenge to democracy and to elections in particular, is indifference. INEC is ready to make a difference. He further urged the people of Anambra to “come out en masse” on election day, to exercise their civic rights and franchise
However, room for contributions, questions, and recommendations were entertained from party leaders, party candidates, observers and various stakeholders, and first person to make his contribution was, Hon. Chief Sir. Basil Ejidike, (Nkwelle Nnabuenyi), APC Anambra State Chairman, pledged the party’s full support to INEC and described the new INEC chairman as “a round peg in a round hole”. He raised concern as regards what happened at the Saturday 16th August, 2025 Anambra-South Senatorial bye-elections, where Non-State Actors were used to harass and intimidate voters thereby causing mayhem.
Hon. Ejidike, equally raised worries about the collation centres domiciled at local government chairmen’s offices, suggesting such arrangements could compromise neutrality. He flagged three recurring threats: collusion at collation venues, vote-buying and inducement, and urged they must be confronted if the election is to be free and fair.
In his remarks, Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu, (Ikukuoma Ndigbo), began by welcoming the presence of the INEC national leadership, stating that “We gather today under the theme of stakeholders-meeting to ensure that the will of the people of Ndi-Anambra prevails and respected.” He commended INEC for its outward display of commitment and urged the Commission to “look squarely at the structural imbalances that hinder credible elections in our State. in the past”
Speaking further, Ikukuoma, also raised the issue of vote-buying, alleging that the ruling party in the State, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), deployed inducements in the August 16 bye-election and is planning a far larger scheme for the governorship poll. He also volunteer to provide INEC with contacts, locations and information on all those engaging in vote-buying, and call on INEC to thwart those plans of the state government because only then will this election be credible,” he submitted.
Chukwuma Ofaraka
Ukachukwu-Ekwunife
Directorate of Media And
Strategic Communication