OPINION: Anambra Guber election improved but for vote-buying, apathy - Orient Foundation

By Reginald Facah

The November 8th 2025 Governorship elections in Anambra State have come and gone, but what lessons are to be learnt.

Organization: Perhaps this election will go down in the annals of election management in Nigeria as one of the better organized ones. Ballot materials were distributed without hitches, election officials turned up in their polling units as early as 7am in some instances, security men were finely deployed and the election observers did their jobs without molestation of any kind. The only noticeable snag here were incidences of vote buying and inducements which saw an avalanche of EFCC officials, descending on several polling stations, acting on intelligence. 

At Community Primary School Amawbia, where Orient Foundation mounted a strong presence, dozens of these officials were seen combing the vicinity for infractions of this nature. From interviews conducted with a number of voters at polling booths, it was obvious that vote buying and inducements were palpably prevalent in the election. Even then, the voters were well behaved and patiently waited for their turn to perform their civic duties. The deployed technology of BVAS was visibly and successfully used in the accreditation processes. IRev was equally effective and delivered 96% of the votes cast by midnight on the day of voting. The announcement of results at polling booths was orderly and the collation centers performed creditably.

Voters Turnout: Anambra State has the unenviable record of voters’ apathy among the populace. However, the 22% voters’ turnout is more than a 100% improvement from the last Governorship election, which was 10%. However the figure remains rather low. The massive civic education exercise carried out by INEC and several NGOs (foreign and local) helped to attune the minds of the people towards performing their civic duty. The ward delineation and recertification of voters’ cards as well as the registration of voters who just turned 18 years helped in ensuring this upsurge of voters. The safer security atmosphere in Anambra State also helped in allaying the fears of the people as they turned out to cast their ballot. 

Indeed, incidences of violence and mayhem were reduced to the barest minimum during this election. Majority of the voters were Women and Youths. There were however no provisions made for physically challenged people. It is instructive to note that the incumbent governor and winner of the election, Governor Soludo won more than 70% of the votes as against 52% by his predecessors in office.

Electoral Malpractices: Apart from the earlier reported cases of electoral inducement, which saw the EFCC making a few arrests across the state, incidences of over voting were observed as well. Indeed, in some polling units, the number of accredited voters was higher than those of registered voters. The ADC electoral observer protested at the hall, just after the announcement of the winner at the Anambra State INEC headquarters. Incidents like that means that the BVAS were bypassed in the voting process; which led to cases of over voting. 

The incident of damaged votes was also high, well over 11,000 votes. There were incidences of disappearance of INEC Result Sheets in some polling booths; luckily each was resolved. Sadly there was also the reported shooting to death of a councilor in Owerre-Ezukala community in the Orumba South Local Government Area, while he was attempting to cast his vote.

Conclusion: While the 2025 Anambra State gubernatorial elections have been won and lost, it is Orient Foundation’s well considered opinion that the act of responsive and responsible governance should commence from day one. The administration in Anambra State is not exactly new, so time must not be wasted on the euphoria of victory; rather the people should begin to feel the direct impact of the votes they cast at the ballot. There is a compelling need for the winner to embark on a participatory governance system that must include the people as a key strategic component of his second term and modalities for the reduction of poverty. Indeed, let not the Soludo administration think it has time on its hands; it must set out early at dawn.

Dr. Reginald Facah, is the Media Director, Orient Foundation, INEC Accredited Election Observer at the just concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State