Anambra Election: Yiaga Africa, 7 Other Foreign Observers, CSOs Deploy Over 600 Election Observers

By Chuks Eke

In preparation for the November 8 gubernatorial election in Anambra state, and to ensure comprehensive monitoring of the process, Yiaga Africa, along with seven other foreign observer groups and various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), have deployed approximately 687 personnel to monitor Saturday’s election.

According to the observers, key areas of focus during the monitoring exercise include INEC’s preparatory activities, election logistics management, election security, potential low voter enthusiasm, and anticipated low voter turnout.

They emphasised that efficiency, integrity, and impartiality are crucial hallmarks of the 2025 Anambra Governorship election.

During a pre-election press briefing on the 2025 Anambra state Governorship election, titled “Anambra 2025: Efficiency, Integrity, and Impartiality will Make or Mar the Election,” Dr. Asmau Maikudi, Chairman of the 2025 Anambra Election Mission, and Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, jointly announced that efforts are being intensified, in collaboration with other foreign observers, to provide a credible and transparent assessment of the election’s conduct.

The statement revealed that “Yiaga Africa is deploying personnel to observe the vote as part of a broader civil society election observation hub supported by the European Union (EU) under the EU Support for Democratic Governance Project (EU-SDGN).

The election observation hub comprises organisations such as Yiaga Africa, the Kukah Centre, International Press Centre, ILC, Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Nigeria Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER, and TAF Africa.”

“Cumulatively,” the statement continued, “the hub is deploying 687 observers across Anambra state, working in coordinated clusters that cover election integrity and results verification, disability inclusion, gender participation, peace building, media and misinformation tracking, logistics observation, and real-time data reporting.”

The statement further disclosed that the election observation hub had previously issued a joint pre-election assessment report analyzing the political climate, security risks, media environment, and level of gender and disability inclusion.

The report offered 66 actionable recommendations to strengthen electoral credibility, voter access, and institutional preparedness.

Quoting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which stated that a total of 2,802,790 registered voters are eligible to participate, including 140,370 newly registered voters across the 326 wards in 5,718 polling units, Yiaga Africa urged all stakeholders to commit to a peaceful, fair, inclusive, and credible electoral process.

The organisation also commended the 18 governorship candidates for signing the peace accord and the national peace committee, led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, for facilitating this important agreement.