As Anambra residents prepare to cast their votes during the November 8 gubernatorial election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cancelled voting in two polling units ahead of the exercise.
INEC said that the decision was taken after the electorates earlier attached to the polling units have relocated elsewhere, leaving the two voting points empty.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who confirmed the development, said that the units couldn’t be allowed to continue existing to avoid any irregularities during the poll.
Speaking at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at INEC Headquarters, Abuja, Amupitan said the Commission had concluded a comprehensive readiness assessment across the state and was confident of a smooth conduct of the election.
He revealed that 24,000 personnel would be deployed across 5,718 polling units, with results collated at 326 wards, 21 local government areas, and the State Collation Centre in Awka.
He also noted that voting would not take place in two polling units due to the absence of registered voters.
The INEC Chairman announced the extension of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise in Anambra State from Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2, 2025, following reports that only 63.9% of registered voters had collected their PVCs.
Amupitan reiterated INEC’s commitment to free, fair, and credible elections, stressing that logistics and security arrangements were already in place. “We have hired 200 buses and 83 boats to ensure seamless transportation of election officials and materials,” he said.
He also warned against vote buying, describing it as a menace that threatens the integrity of elections.
“Security agents must not allow vote buyers to contaminate our electoral process,” the INEC chairman added.
