The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced November 6, 2025, as the date for the off-cycle governorship election in Anambra State.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Thursday in Abuja at an, extraordinary meeting with leaders of the nation’s registered political parties, which he said would be the last in its regular quarterly consultative meetings with political parties for 2024.
He said a formal notice for the election will be published on 13th November 2024.
Yakubu said the commission expects the party to conduct its primaries between 20th March 2025 and 10th April 2025, while the candidate nomination portal will open at 9.00 am on 18th April 2025 and close at 6.00 pm on 12th May 2025.
The INEC chairman said the final list of candidates will be published on 9th June 2025, while campaigns in public by political parties will commence on 11th June 2025 and end at midnight on Thursday 6th November 2025.
“I have repeatedly said that there is no election season in Nigeria any longer. Recently, our regular meetings have come on the eve of major elections. With just 29 days (or four weeks) to the Ondo State Governorship election, today’s meeting is no exception.
“Only two days ago, the commission presented the register of voters to political parties in our state office in Akure. With this development, we have successfully accomplished 10 out of the 13 activities listed in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.
“The remaining activities are the publication of the Notice of Poll, the Last Day of Campaign and Election Day,” Yakubu said.
He said even as the commission prepares for the Ondo State Governorship election, it is always mindful of its responsibilities for elections and electoral activities.
He said for instance, Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 requires the commission to issue the notice for elections not later than 360 days before the date of the election.
He said, “This applies to the General as well as Off-Cycle governorship elections. As you are aware, the last governorship election in Anambra State was held on 6th November 2021. By the effluxion of time, the governorship election is due next year.
“Consequently, the commission has approved that the 2025 Anambra State Governorship election will hold on Saturday 8th November 2025. In compliance with the mandatory requirement of 360 days, the formal notice for the election will be published on 13th November 2024,” Yakubu said.
Speaking on behalf of the political parties, National Chairman Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Mamman Dantelle, reiterated its demand for the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), as elections conducted by SIECS are a sham, thus SIECS are a deliberate assault on Nigeria’s democracy.
“It is not just a coronation of the candidates of a ruling party in the state, it is daylight robbery of people’s votes and mandates for chairmanship and councilor positions. In place of SIECs INEC should conduct all local government elections in Nigeria as it does for federal and state elections. There is no need to create another body to conduct Local Government polls,” he said.
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