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Tag: INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)

  • Anambra Guber: INEC Boss Warns Against Vote-Buying, Extends PVC Collection

    Anambra Guber: INEC Boss Warns Against Vote-Buying, Extends PVC Collection

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a stern warning against vote-buying ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, gave the warning on Tuesday during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held to review preparedness for the upcoming polls.

    Amupitan reaffirmed his commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections that genuinely reflect the will of the people, noting that the Commission had completed a week-long readiness assessment across Anambra State.

    “Our mandate is to conduct credible elections, and we are determined that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised,” he stated.

    He, however, disclosed that INEC encountered network issues during a recent Mock Accreditation Exercise conducted in 12 polling units across six Local Government Areas using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).


    He assured that necessary steps are being taken to ensure a seamless voting process on election day.

    Providing further updates, the INEC Chairman said results of the election would be collated at 326 ward centres, 21 local government centres, and finally at the State Collation Centre in Awka.

    Following a report that only 63.9 percent of registered voters had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), Amupitan announced an extension of PVC collection in Anambra State.


    The exercise, he said, will continue from Wednesday, October 29, to Sunday, November 2, 2025, to allow more voters to obtain their cards.

    “Our mission remains ensuring that every logistical, security, and operational element required for the Anambra election is perfectly in place,” Amupitan added.

    He also emphasized the importance of synergy among security agencies, describing it as “non-negotiable” in the effort to safeguard the integrity of the polls.


    The Commission, according to him, has concluded arrangements with transport unions, including the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Maritime Union Workers of Nigeria (MUWN), hiring 200 buses and 83 boats for the smooth movement of electoral materials and personnel.

    The INEC boss warned political actors and stakeholders against any form of inducement or vote trading, stressing that security agencies must ensure a zero-tolerance environment for vote buyers.

    “We must join hands to combat the menace of vote buying.


    Security agents cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate during the Anambra election.


    Together, let us uphold the values of democracy and work relentlessly for the credibility of our elections,” Amupitan said.

  • Curtain falls on Prof Yakubu’s controversial reign at INEC

    Curtain falls on Prof Yakubu’s controversial reign at INEC

    • Professor Mahmood Yakubu has officially stepped aside as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    • Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC National Commissioner, has taken over the reins as Acting Chairman of the electoral body.

    The formal handover ceremony took place on Tuesday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

    The transition follows Professor Yakubu’s decision to proceed on terminal leave after completing his two-term tenure as head of the Commission.

    Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, one of INEC’s longest-serving National Commissioners, currently chairs the Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaints Committee (LSCCC).

    A lawyer with over three decades of experience, she holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Commercial and Corporate Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London.

    In a brief ceremony, Professor Yakubu formally handed over documents to Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu, signifying the official transfer of leadership.

    INEC, in a statement, said the handover was part of its tradition of ensuring administrative continuity and institutional stability.

    Professor Yakubu, who was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2015 and reappointed for a second term in 2020, is the longest-serving INEC Chairman since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.

    His tenure witnessed landmark electoral innovations, including the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal — two reforms widely credited with improving transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.

    Critics observe however, that while the huge investment in technology aided the voting process, the outcome of elections remained quite controversial due to the failure of the electoral body to deploy for the outcome.

    The smooth transition comes as the Commission continues with ongoing voter registration exercises in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and prepares for off-cycle governorship elections in key states.

    Meanwhile, credible reports suggest that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to nominate Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the substantive INEC Chairman.

    The nomination, according to sources, may be ratified at a scheduled Council of State meeting on Thursday.

    Until then, Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu will oversee the affairs of the Commission in an acting capacity, ensuring that ongoing electoral operations remain uninterrupted.

    Her appointment is seen as a continuation of INEC’s commitment to professionalism, gender inclusion, and effective succession planning.

    Further details about the handover and the anticipated presidential nomination are expected in the coming days.

  • Kogi bye-election: INEC confirms receiving sensitive materials

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kogi  says it  has received sensitive materials for the Dekina-Okura II house of assembly bye-election in  the state.

    INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC)  in Kogi, Mr Oliver Agundu, made the disclosure on Friday.

    Agundu, who spoke through the commissions’s  Voters Education Officer in Kogi,  Mr Haruna Haliru, said the sensitive materials were collected from the  Central Bank of Nigeria  Zonal Office in Lokoja.

    He said the  commission is ready to commence distribution of the sensitive materials to  various polling units in the four affected wards for the election.

    “The Dekina-Okura II state constituency has a total of 78, 059 registered voters, out of which 76, 385 had collected their Permanent Voter Cards  and ready for the election, ” he said.

    The REC  said that only five out of the 18 registered political parties are contesting in the election.

    He listed the parties as  Accord, African Democratic Congress,  All Progressives Congress; Allied People’s Movement, and the  People’s Democratic Party.

    The REC  expressed satisfaction with the deployment of security operatives and observers for the election.

    He,  however, assured all stakeholders in the constituency of a free, fair, transparent and credible election.

  • INEC to hold continuous voter registration nationwide

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its to commence Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in 811 centres nationwide.

    Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this in a statement issued after the commission’s regular meeting in Abuja.

    Olumekun stated that for easy identification, INEC would be deploying an online CVR Live Locator to assist citizens locate their registration centres nationwide.

    He noted that as earlier announced by the INEC, the CVR would resume on Aug. 18 with the online pre-registration, while the in-person registration option would follow a week later on Aug. 25.

    “Thereafter, the two processes will continue simultaneously for a year until Aug. 30.

    “The exercise will hold in 811 centres made up of our 774 Local Government, 36 States and FCT offices nationwide from 9am to 3p.m (Monday to Friday) every week with the exception of national public holidays.

    “The locator will go live a day to the commencement of the CVR on Aug.17, 2025 and can be accessed at the following address https://cvr.inecnigeria.org/locator,’’ he said.

    Olumekun added that the commission on Thursday uploaded a 38-page document to its website and other official online platforms indicating the addresses of the 811 in-person registration centres nationwide.

    “Similarly, dedicated telephone numbers have been given for each state of the federation to serve as help desk for citizens that require further clarification.

    “The procedure for both the online and in-person registrations remains the same as was the case in 2022.

    “Detailed information on the process, including video clips, will once again be released by the commission next week,” Olumekun said.

    The national commissioner also disclosed that after the July 23 update on requests for party registration, the commission had received eight more letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.

    This according to him brought the number received so far to 151.

    He noted that details of the latest requests, indicating their proposed names, acronyms, logos, addresses and interim leaderships of the associations, had also being uploaded to the commission website and other online platforms for public information.

    “Having created the portal for party registration, the commission has commenced the shortlisting of the associations that meet the requirements to proceed to the application stage.

    “Details will be released immediately after the 16 bye-elections in 12 states scheduled for Saturday Aug. 16.
    Olumekun reassured Nigerians that the commission would continue to keep citizens informed on all its activities.

  • Voter Reg.: INEC, security agencies to ensure seamless exercise in Lagos

    Ahead of the flag-off of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met, Wednesday in Lagos with heads of security agencies.   

    The meeting was under the auspice of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

    The meeting held at INEC headquarters in Sabo-Yaba, Lagos State.

    At the meeting were representatives of  the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, Department of State Security, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Correctional Service, and Federal Road Safety Commission.

    Others are: the National Youth Service Corps, Federal Fire Service, and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission

    Speaking, Prof. Ayobami Salami, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos, said the meeting was to kick-start a crucial partnership in preparation for the upcoming CVR starting on Aug. 18.

    According to Salami, the meeting is his inaugural engagement with ICCES members as the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the state.

    He commended the various security agencies present on their consistent for INEC operations, saying their collaboration had helped the commission to conduct better elections.

    “This meeting provides the platform for us to discuss our preparation and consider essential issues with respect to the security architecture of the state, and strategise in preparation for the exercise.

    “The CVR exercise presents an opportunity for eligible citizens to register, update their details and exercise their right to participate in our democratic process

    “The success of this exercise however, hinges on the security and stability provided by your agencies.

    “As we embark on this critical exercise, one cannot over-emphasise the pivotal role that your agencies play in ensuring the safety and security of our electoral process.

    “Your expertise and collaboration are indispensable in maintaining peace, preventing malpractices, and thereby upholding the integrity of our democratic endeavours,” Salami said.

    He said that INEC would always work with  ICCES to ensure a secure environment for voter registration, tame malpractices, prevent and respond to incidents of violence or intimidation, and enhance public confidence in the electoral process.

    “I look forward to a fruitful synergy with your agencies and pledge that INEC will work hand-in-hand with you to achieve our shared objectives.

    “Together, we can ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible process that strengthens our democracy,” Salami said.

    Giving more information on the forthcoming exercise, Mr Muyiwa Yussuf, INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Registration/ICT, said that the Online Pre-registration would start on Aug. 18, urging prospective eligible applicants to register online on INEC Portal via https://www.cvr.inecnigeria.org.

    Yussuf said that the In-Person Physical Registration would start on Aug. 25 at the 20 local government area offices and the state headquarters of INEC in the state.

    According to him, the exercise shall be all-year-round for a period as may be determined by the commission beginning from 9.00a.m. to 3.00p.m. daily, except Saturday and Sunday.

    He said that anyone on queue as at 3.00p.m. during the period would be accepted for registration.

    Yussuf said that those who just attained the age of 18, those who needed to replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voters wishing to transfer their registration to a new location were eligible to participate in the exercise.

    He added that individuals who needed to update their voter information,including name, address ,could  also present themselves for the exercise.

    “It is very important to say that the commission would not tolerate double registration and registration of the underaged as there are many ways these can be detected,” he said.

    According to him, at the moment, Lagos State has 20 LGAs, 245 Registration Areas and 13, 325 Polling Units with a total of 7, 060,195 registered voters.

    He said that PVCs collected by voters as at February 2023 stood as 6,214,970 and a total of 845,225 uncollected PVCs.

    Speaking, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Lagos State Police Command, DCP Tijani Fatai, pledged the readiness of police and other security agencies to ensure a seamless exercise across the state.

    “It is our duty to protect lives and property-INEC and its officials are included. For us, we are ready to give adequate security backing to all activities that INEC is to carry out.

    “So, wherever the commission is going, we will provide its officials and materials with adequate security to make all those activities successful.

    “Let all the eligible residents be free to go out for their registration as their security is guaranteed,” he said.