…as chairman appoints veteran journalist Adedayo Oketola as chief press secretary
By Nkechi Eze
With just 12 days to the Anambra Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the state fully prepared to conduct a peaceful, credible, and transparent poll. The assurance followed the conclusion of a comprehensive readiness assessment tour by a high-level delegation from the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The team, led by the National Commissioner for Election Planning and Monitoring, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, embarked on a weeklong inspection across the state to evaluate logistics, personnel deployment, security arrangements, and stakeholder engagement ahead of the election.
The delegation, which also included National Commissioners, Mr. Sam Olumekun, mni, Dr. Kenneth Ukeagu, and Dr. Baba Bila arrived in Awka on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, and immediately commenced engagements with the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra State, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, and the State Management Team. The mission, according to Prof. Gumus, was to ensure that “every logistical, security, and operational element required for the election is in place and in working order.”
Field inspections took the delegation to several Local Government Areas, including Dunukofia and Oyi, where batching and deployment of non-sensitive materials were ongoing. The team also monitored the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across designated Registration Areas. Interacting with voters, Prof. Gumus urged patience and cooperation, assuring that every eligible voter would be attended to. “This process is designed to be smooth and inclusive. No voter will be left behind,” she affirmed.
Midweek, the delegation held an intensive session with the 21 Electoral Officers (EOs) responsible for elections across the state’s Local Government Areas. Discussions focused on logistics, early activation of Registration Area Centres (RACs), and the timely movement of personnel and materials. Dr. Ukeagu underscored the importance of accountability, directing EOs to maintain meticulous documentation of all election materials and vehicles. “Every vehicle, every ballot, every form must be properly tracked,” he stressed.
Echoing this, Dr. Baba Bila, Chairman of the Electoral Operations and Logistics Committee, charged the officers to justify the trust reposed in them. “The Commission has given you trust; you must return that trust with integrity,” he said. On his part, Mr. Sam Olumekun, mni, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), emphasized professionalism, noting that “keeping the process clean and transparent remains INEC’s strongest currency.”
The delegation also met with leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), who play crucial roles in election-day logistics. The meeting reaffirmed INEC’s collaboration with the unions under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Dr. Ukeagu cautioned against any breach of agreement, stressing that “this is not business as usual.” He added, “Stick to the agreed vehicles and arrangements. Payment will be prompt, but accountability must be total.”
A major highlight of the tour was the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting, where security chiefs from the Police, DSS, NSCDC, and the military provided updates on security operations and flashpoint monitoring. They assured that robust deployments and coordinated patrols would be maintained before, during, and after the election. “Our goal is simple, peaceful, credible elections across all polling units,” they pledged.
Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu commended the synergy among security agencies, describing it as the foundation of electoral integrity. “We enter this election with a peaceful state of mind. The cooperation we see today gives us confidence that materials, personnel, and voters will move freely and safely on Election Day,” she said.
The delegation’s tour ended with the monitoring of the Mock Accreditation Exercise in Anambra East, where they observed the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in operation. The devices performed efficiently, confirming their readiness for large-scale deployment. Dr. Ukeagu, visibly impressed, declared the Commission “99% ready,” stating that only the final movement of staff and materials remained. “Every other component is in place, from logistics to security, from voter sensitization to material tracking,” he affirmed.
Prof. Gumus, in her closing remarks, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness and stakeholder collaboration. “Our visit has shown that Anambra is ready, INEC is ready, and the people are ready. We look forward to delivering an election that will reflect the true will of the electorate,” she said.
In a related development, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has approved the appointment of Mr. Adedayo Eriye Oketola as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS). The appointment was formally conveyed in a letter signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, dated Friday, October 24, 2025.
Mr. Oketola, a seasoned journalist and former Editor of The Punch Newspaper, brings nearly two decades of media experience and professional distinction to his new role. Known for his incisive reporting and editorial leadership, his appointment is seen as a strategic step towards strengthening the Commission’s communication and public engagement efforts ahead of the forthcoming elections.
In her letter, Mrs. Oriaran-Anthony congratulated Mr. Oketola on his appointment and urged him to discharge his duties with utmost professionalism and commitment to transparency. “You are joining the Commission at a critical moment. Uphold the integrity and openness for which INEC is known,” she advised.
