The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has described the November 8 Anambra State governorship election as a “litmus test” for the new leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last week appointed Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as INEC chairman following the expiration of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure. The appointment, endorsed by the National Council of State on Thursday, has been forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. In the meantime, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu has assumed leadership of the commission in an acting capacity pending Amupitan’s confirmation.

Speaking yesterday during INEC’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties, IPAC National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, urged the commission to deliver a credible election that would restore public confidence in the electoral process.

“With new leadership, citizens’ expectations are high — very high,” Dantalle said. “The commission must justify the confidence the nation reposes in it. This is the only way to rebuild trust in the electoral process and encourage mass participation in future polls.”

He also called on the National Assembly to expedite constitutional and electoral reforms, including IPAC’s proposal to scrap State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and transfer the conduct of local government elections to INEC.

In her remarks, Acting INEC Chairman Mrs Agbamuche-Mbu said the commission had completed 10 out of the 13 scheduled activities for the Anambra governorship election and was fully prepared to deliver a free, fair, and credible poll.

She listed the remaining activities to include the publication of the notice of poll on October 25, the end of campaigns on November 6, and the election proper on November 8.

Agbamuche-Mbu added that all non-sensitive materials had been delivered to the state, while voter education and sensitisation were ongoing. She said INEC had also been engaging security agencies at all levels to ensure a smooth and peaceful election.

She reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to transparent and inclusive polls, noting that preparations were also underway for the February 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, as well as the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections later in the year.

Agbamuche-Mbu further disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which resumed nationwide on August 18 for online pre-registration and August 25 for physical registration, would continue until August 30, 2026. (Daily Trust)