By Nwabueze Okonkwo
ONITSHA — Ahead of the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, Yiaga Africa, alongside seven other foreign observer groups and several Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), has deployed approximately 687 personnel to ensure comprehensive monitoring of the electoral process.
According to the observer groups, the monitoring exercise will focus on key areas including INEC’s preparatory activities, election logistics management, security, voter enthusiasm, and anticipated turnout. They noted that efficiency, integrity, and impartiality will be decisive factors in the credibility of the 2025 election.
In a pre-election press briefing titled “Anambra 2025: Efficiency, Integrity and Impartiality Will Make or Mar the Election,” jointly signed by Dr. Asmau Maikudi, Chairperson of the 2025 Anambra Election Mission, and Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, the group said efforts are being intensified—working with other foreign observers—to produce a transparent and evidence-based account of the election.
The statement explained that Yiaga Africa is deploying its observers as part of a broader civil society election observation hub supported by the European Union under the EU Support for Democratic Governance Project (EU-SDGN).
The hub comprises Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (ILC), Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Nigeria Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER, and TAF Africa.
“Cumulatively, the hub is deploying 687 observers across Anambra State, working in coordinated clusters covering election integrity and results verification, disability inclusion, gender participation, peace building, media and misinformation tracking, logistics observation, and real-time data reporting,” the statement added.
The observation hub had earlier issued a joint pre-election assessment report analyzing the political climate, security risks, media environment, and the level of gender and disability inclusion. The report also offered 66 actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening electoral credibility, voter access, and institutional readiness.
Quoting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the statement noted that 2,802,790 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election, including 140,370 newly registered voters, across 326 wards and 5,718 polling units.
Yiaga Africa urged all stakeholders to remain committed to a peaceful, fair, inclusive, and credible election. The group also commended the 18 governorship candidates for signing the peace accord, and the National Peace Committee led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar for facilitating the agreement.
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