As Anambra State gears up for its November 2025 governorship election, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are raising the alarm over potential threats to electoral credibility.
With Professor Mahmoud Yakubu preparing to exit as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), many advocates argue that Nigeria’s electoral framework still leaves room for undue influence and manipulation.
At the forefront of this push is Yiaga Africa, a leading pro-democracy group, which convened a sensitisation workshop in Awka, the state capital, bringing together civil society actors from across Anambra.
The gathering provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss weaknesses in the electoral system and explore reforms that could safeguard the integrity of the upcoming polls.
One of the central issues raised at the workshop was the President’s power to appoint the INEC Chairman.
Participants warned that this arrangement compromises the perceived independence of the electoral body and could influence election outcomes.
The consensus among CSOs was clear: the National Assembly should consider amending the constitution to remove presidential control over the appointment, ideally before the 2027 general elections.
Yiaga Africa’s Programme Manager, Cynthia Mbamalu, stressed that the workshop was not only about identifying systemic flaws but also about building CSO capacity to monitor and advocate for credible elections.
She highlighted that the credibility of Anambra’s governorship election would serve as a benchmark for democratic practices nationwide.
Beyond structural reforms, participants discussed strategies to curb prevalent electoral malpractices such as vote-buying and political thuggery.
Professor Nnamdi Aduba, a member of Yiaga Africa’s Board of Trustees, argued that the enormous salaries and allowances of political office holders are a major driver of election-related corruption.
“The high financial incentives attached to political positions create desperation among politicians, which fuels vote-buying and violence during elections,” Prof. Aduba said.
He recommended legislative action to reduce the financial appeal of political offices, a measure he believes would diminish incentives for malpractice and make elections more competitive on merit.
Yiaga Africa also outlined its operational plan for observing the governorship election. Under its Process and Result Verification for Transparency (PRVT) initiative, the organisation will deploy 250 observers to randomly selected polling units across all 21 local government areas.
These observers will track every stage of the electoral process, from voter verification and accreditation to ballot counting and result posting.
An additional 22 roving citizen observers will cover broader election dynamics across the state, reporting irregularities and ensuring real-time monitoring.
Concurrently, the organisation has launched grassroots voter sensitisation campaigns aimed at educating citizens on their electoral rights and encouraging peaceful participation.
According to Mbamalu, empowering citizens and strengthening civil society oversight is key to deepening Nigeria’s democracy.
“Active citizen participation, combined with institutional reforms, is essential to ensuring that elections are free, fair, and credible,” she noted.
As Anambra approaches the governorship election, Yiaga Africa’s combined focus on advocacy, monitoring, and voter education underscores the crucial role that civil society plays in defending the democratic process and fostering electoral integrity.