By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, has called on the people of Anambra State to turn out in large numbers for Saturday’s governorship election, assuring that the Commission is fully prepared to deliver a free, fair, inclusive, and transparent process.
Addressing journalists at a press conference held on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Professor Amupitan made a passionate appeal to voters to overcome apathy and actively participate in shaping the future of their state.
“The greatest enemy to Anambra’s democracy is not just external violence but voter apathy,” the INEC Chairman declared, stressing that democracy only thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders through the ballot.
He expressed concern over the declining trend in voter participation in previous elections, revealing that turnout figures have fallen sharply over the past decade. “In the 2013 Governorship Election, turnout was only 25.5%. In 2017, it dropped further to 20.10%. By 2021, the situation deteriorated sharply with a mere 10.27% turnout,” he lamented.
Professor Amupitan appealed to all eligible voters to come out en masse on Saturday, November 8, to exercise their civic right without fear or intimidation. “Every vote matters. Democracy only thrives when citizens actively choose their leaders,” he said.
Highlighting the Commission’s readiness, the INEC Chairman announced that voter preparedness in the state had reached a record level, with 98.80% of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) already collected. He attributed the impressive figure to the Commission’s proactive measures and recent extension of the PVC collection period, which, according to him, “yielded excellent results.”
In a landmark decision aimed at ensuring inclusivity, Professor Amupitan disclosed that INEC had partnered with The Albino Foundation (TAFAfrica) to deploy Sign Language Interpreters across polling units. The initiative, he explained, will enable the 3,456 registered voters living with disabilities in Anambra State to fully participate in the electoral process.
On logistics and security, the INEC boss assured that all 5,718 polling units across the state would open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on election day. He confirmed that over 24,000 ad hoc personnel had been trained and deployed, along with 6,879 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, to ensure smooth accreditation and voting.
To guarantee a secure environment, Professor Amupitan disclosed that 45,000 police officers would be on duty, working in synergy with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). He assured that the deployment would be impartial and professional, emphasizing that “neutrality is guaranteed and impunity will not be tolerated.”
Concluding his remarks, the INEC Chairman delivered a clear and confident message to the electorate: “You have collected your PVCs, security will protect you, and INEC is ready for you. So, come out on Saturday, 8th November, vote freely, vote peacefully, vote proudly.”
