EU Launches Large-Scale Election Observation Mission in Anambra State
The European Union has announced the deployment of 687 election observers to Anambra State ahead of the upcoming governorship election, which is scheduled for Saturday. This initiative is part of the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme, designed to enhance democratic processes and ensure transparency in elections.
Through this programme, the EU supports civil society partners in various ways, including deploying election observers, strengthening peacebuilding efforts, promoting disability and gender inclusion, combating misinformation, and building public confidence in the electoral process.
According to a statement released by the EU in Abuja, seven out of the 16 implementing partners under the EU-SDGN programme have already arrived in Anambra State. These partners include the Kukah Centre, Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre, Centre for Media and Society, Nigeria Women Trust Fund, ElectHER, and TAF Africa.
“The main goal of this unified observer deployment is to gather a comprehensive view of the election by leveraging the diverse skills and experience of the EU-SDGN partners. The findings will be analyzed and compiled into a detailed report that will be made available to all stakeholders,” the statement said.
A total of 687 observers are being deployed across Anambra State, working in coordinated clusters that cover multiple areas such as election integrity, disability inclusion, gender participation, peacebuilding, media and misinformation tracking, logistics observation, and real-time data reporting.
“This is one of the largest civil society-led observer deployments ever recorded for a state election in Nigeria,” the statement highlighted.
Each cluster of observers is collecting evidence from different angles. When these findings are combined, they provide a more complete and verifiable picture of the election, something that no single organization could achieve on its own.
Thematic Areas Covered by Observers
The observers are distributed across several thematic areas:
- Election Integrity and Results Verification:Ensuring that the voting process is fair and transparent.
- Disability Inclusion:Trained observers and stand-alone sign language interpreters are present to support individuals with disabilities.
- Gender Participation:Observers are monitoring issues related to women’s participation in the election.
- Media and Misinformation Tracking:Journalists and fact-checkers are deployed at polling locations to monitor media coverage and combat false information.
- Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention:Efforts are being made to prevent any potential conflicts during the election period.
- Polling Logistics and Sensitive Materials Monitoring:Observers are keeping an eye on the distribution of election materials and the overall logistics of the process.
Earlier this week, the EU-SDGN programme supported the signing of the Anambra Election Peace Accord, which involved all candidates and political parties. The accord emphasizes the importance of peaceful conduct during the election and the need for candidates to respect the will of the voters.
In addition, the EU-SDGN programme presented a Joint Pre-Election Assessment Report, which analyzed the political climate, security risks, media environment, and levels of gender and disability inclusion. The report also provided 66 actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening electoral credibility, voter access, and institutional preparedness.
INEC Confirms Readiness for the Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared full readiness for the governorship election, which is set to take place on November 8, 2025, across 5,718 wards in Anambra State.
Prof. Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of INEC, stated during a stakeholders meeting in Awka that approximately 24,000 ad hoc staff will be deployed for the election, while around 540 journalists have been accredited to cover the event. He emphasized the commission’s commitment to ensuring credible and inclusive elections.
According to INEC, 16 candidates from 16 different political parties are vying for the governorship position. The incumbent, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, is seeking re-election under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.