INEC officials Arrive in Awka as voting gets underway

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have finally arrived at some polling units in Awka, the state capital, for today’s election.

At Agu Awka, polling units 008 and 022 at Aroma, Awka South Local Government Area, shouts of victory were heard from expected voters.

 

Officials are already pasting the names of eligible voters in preparation for the commencement of voting.

Despite assurances that voting would commence at 8 a.m. on Saturday, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had not arrived at polling units in Awka as of 8:30 a.m.

A visit to Agu Awka polling units 008 and 022 at Aroma Junction, just a few meters from the INEC headquarters, showed that officials were yet to arrive.

An accredited observer of INEC from JDPC, a non-governmental organization run by the Catholic Church, Mr. Charles Kwentoh, expressed disappointment at the delay, despite earlier assurances that voting would begin at 8 a.m.

The Anambra off-circle governorship election will be held today, Saturday, November 8, 2025.

Anambra is one of the eight states where elections are held outside of the general election timetable.

Among those states are Bayelsa, Kogi, Anambra, Imo, Osun, Ondo, Edo, and Ekiti.

Anambra joined in off-circle governorship election in 2003 after the court sacked Chris Ngige, a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who was declared the winner of the state governorship election and installed Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, after a two-year tribunal case at the Court of Appeal in Enugu.

About sixteen candidates have been listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to run for this year’s election.

Onyeeze Chidi – A

Nweke Ezechukwu – Japhet – AA

Ifemeludike Chioma Grace – AAC

Nwosu Chima John – ADC

Ukachukwu Nicholas – APC

Soludo Charles – APGA

Otti Cyprian Echezona – APM.

Nweke Christopher
Chukwudubem – APP

Okeke Chika Jerry – BP

Moghalu George – LP

Onyejgbu Geoffrey – NNPP

Ndidi Christy Olieh – NRM

Ezenwafor Jude – PDP

Chukwurah Vincent – SDP

Chukwuma Paul Chukwuka -YPP and last but not the least,

Ugwoji Uchenna – ZLP

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, on several occasions reaffirmed the Commission’s total readiness for the Anambra State Governorship.

He said that the Commission has deployed a total of 24,000 personnel for the polls and that election will hold in 5,718 of the 5720 PUs, citing lack of voters at the two PUs left out.

The incumbent governor, Soludo, remains a major contender in the governorship race.

Follow this thread for updates and results of the Anambra State governorship election.