Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it has finalised all arrangements for the conduct of the governorship election in Anambra State.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan further disclosed in Abuja while briefing the media that 2,769,137 out of 2,802,790 registered voters in Anambra State have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing 98.8% collection rate.
He described the turnout for PVC collection as “a significant achievement for any election in Nigeria.
“All uncollected cards will now be safely retrieved and stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the election”.
He explained that Oyi Local Government Area recorded the highest PVC collection rate with 99.82%, followed closely by Onitsha South (99.74%), Orumba North (99.51%), and Nnewi North (99.40%). Aguata LGA recorded the lowest rate with 96.60%.
Reaffirming INEC’s readiness, Professor Amupitan said all 5,718 polling units would open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m.
“We are deploying the BVAS for accreditation and result upload to the IReV portal.
Over 24,000 trained ad hoc staff are ready, and 6,879 BVAS devices have been fully tested, configured, and backed up,” he disclosed.
45,000 security personnel and boats deployed for poll
He added that over 3,000 vehicles and 83 boats, supported by security escorts, will convey personnel and materials, particularly to riverine communities.
The INEC Situation Room in Abuja would monitor field operations in real time to ensure prompt response to any challenge.
On security, Professor Amupitan disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 personnel, supported by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
Amupitan also announced that the Commission has approved the deployment of sign language interpreters across polling units to enable the 3,456 registered voters with disabilities to exercise their rights.
He noted that four National Commissioners and 10 Resident Electoral Commissioners have been deployed to supervise the election, with special arrangements for voters in six Registration Areas of Ihiala LGA to vote safely at the Local Government Secretariat under security protection.
The INEC Chairman reminded political parties and stakeholders of the ongoing preparations for the FCT Area Council elections scheduled for February 2026, urging them to adhere to deadlines for the submission of polling agents and observer lists.