By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

With barely one week to the November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deployed about 24,000 ad hoc staff of all categories to work in 5,718 polling units during the polls.

This was disclosed by the National Commissioner Supervising Anambra and Chairman Tenders Board Committee, Dr. Kenneth Ikeagu, during a press conference held at the INEC state headquarters in Awka over the weekend.

He explained that apart from the ad hoc staff, about 540 journalists have been accredited to cover the election.

Ikeagu gave assurance of the Commission’s preparations and commitment to the governorship poll in line with its commitment to credible and inclusive elections.

He said: "The Commission has been implementing a comprehensive plan of activities covering logistics, technology, training, stakeholder engagement, and security coordination, including the conduct of a mock accreditation exercise which was conducted across selected polling units in three senatorial districts of the state on Saturday.

"The exercise is to test the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, assess its efficiency, and evaluate the process of uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal ahead of the main election."

He reeled out the selected polling units to include Anambra Central: Awka South (Amawbia II – Igwédimma Primary School I & II), Idemili North (Nkpor II – Ububa Village Square, Ifeadigo Hall), Anambra North: Oyi (Nteje III & IV – Girls Secondary School, State Primary School).

Others were, Anambra East (Aguleri II – Central School, Umunoke Public Square I) and Anambra South: Aguata (Ekwulobia I & II – Central School, Urban Girls Secondary School), Orumba North (Ajalli I – Primary School, RCM KDT School).

While noting that the exercise was aimed at evaluating logistics, operational readiness, and general preparedness ahead of the governorship poll, the INEC National Commissioner said, “The Commission has been implementing a comprehensive plan of activities covering logistics, technology, training, stakeholder engagement, and security coordination, including the conduct of a mock accreditation exercise which was conducted across selected polling units in three senatorial districts of the state today (Saturday).

"We carried out a mock accreditation and other voting exercise today and the process went seamlessly. Accreditation took place seamlessly under six minutes and voting happened within 36 minutes.

“The exercise is to test the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, assess its efficiency, and evaluate the process of uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal ahead of the main election.

"For the November 8, 2025 election, we are deploying about 24,000 ad hoc staff of all categories in 5,718 polling units across the state, with 540 accredited journalists also covering the election. The commission is fully prepared and committed for the forthcoming governorship poll in line with our commitment to credible and inclusive elections.

"The collection of PVCs is ongoing across wards and it is ending on Sunday, October 25. The collection exercise will not be extended unless there is a special directive from the head office to that effect. We don’t have the total figure of those that have collected at the moment, but at the end of the day, we will announce the figure.

"We assured the electorate of prompt arrival of electoral materials, the commission has arranged for boats and has released funds for boats that will convey electoral officers and materials to the riverine areas in the state.

“Materials will be leaving on Thursday afternoon and if they leave that time, and election is on Saturday, there is no way there will be late arrival of materials. We are very much prepared for this election.

"Anambra people are very knowledgeable and they have been adequately enlightened on how to vote and when to come out. We said election will start by 8:30am and it will end by 2:30pm. If you are on the queue within this time, you are going to cast your ballot.”

Giving insight on the number of people that have so far collected their PVCs since the collection started on Wednesday, October 22, Ikeagu said the number is yet to be ascertained as the exercise is still ongoing.

He however gave assurance that the number of those that have collected their PVCs will be announced at the end of the exercise.

While expressing satisfaction with the level of progress achieved by INEC staff and the cooperation of residents, Ikeagu urged voters to remain patient, law-abiding, and orderly as preparations continue.