As the 2025 Off-Cycle Anambra State Gubernatorial Election approaches on November 8, a coalition of observers accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed high confidence in Anambra’s election preparedness, an assessment announced during a press conference focused on the upcoming electoral event.

The coalition’s evaluation draws on information from over 350 observers spread across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

During the press conference held in Awka, coalition representatives including Augustine Okafor from the Grassroot Development Centre for Peace and Social Justice as well as Sarki Danjuma from the Initiative for Promotion and Civic Obligation for Sustainable Peace, praised INEC for its effective organizational strategies and timely preparations leading up to the election, adhering to established guidelines, issuing the official election timetable, conducting Continuous Voter Registration, and ensuring the transparent distribution of both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials.

The coalition also recognized the efforts of security agencies and the state government in improving safety measures, particularly in areas that have previously faced challenges due to crime and commended the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other security leaders for deploying over 60,000 personnel across the state to safeguard the election.

The political landscape in Anambra State was described as largely peaceful and suitable for credible elections, reported no significant incidents of political violence or thuggery during the campaign activities, emphasizing that the commitment from INEC and security forces to prevent the misuse of incumbency helps build voter confidence.

They encouraged INEC to uphold neutrality, ensure the availability of Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, and electronically transmit results to mitigate the risk of manipulation.