By Chimaobi Nwaiwu
NNEWI — As the countdown begins for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025, election observer group Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has expressed serious concerns over what it described as the short training duration given to INEC ad-hoc staff assigned to operate the BVAS machines across the state.
KDI, a democracy, development, and civic-tech nonprofit organization committed to strengthening governance in Nigeria and across Africa, acknowledged INEC’s efforts to ensure a hitch-free election but stressed that the training period was insufficient.
Speaking during a pre-election data briefing with stakeholders in Awka, KDI’s Head of Research and Strategy, Oluwafemi John Adebayo, noted that the 15-day training period was not enough to ensure mastery of the BVAS machines. He pointed out that a similar exercise in Ondo State lasted an average of four weeks, questioning why Anambra’s training was significantly shorter.
According to Adebayo, “While we acknowledge the efforts being made by INEC to organize a hitch-free poll in the state, we must note that shorter training windows, such as what has happened here, reduce mastery of polling procedures and BVAS configuration, which could affect the electoral process.”
He expressed doubt about the ability of the ad-hoc staff to effectively manage the machines, noting that unlike in Ondo State, there was no refresher training for the Anambra team. This gap, he warned, could lead to delays in the voting process at polling units.
Adebayo also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to urgently address other concerns, including BVAS malfunction, late arrival of materials, and logistics challenges.
In her remarks, KDI Team Leader Bukola Idowu emphasized the group’s commitment to tracking relevant information and promoting data-driven advocacy needed to advance public policy.
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