The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held its third quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Wednesday in Abuja, providing a comprehensive update on upcoming electoral activities and affirming its dedication to conducting credible and transparent elections.
The meeting was chaired by the Acting Chairman of INEC, May Agbamuche-Mbu, who used the platform to update stakeholders.
She began by acknowledging the departure of the former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on October 7, 2025, and commended his tenure for its notable innovations and maintenance of institutional integrity.
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On election activities, Agbamuche-Mbu highlighted the successful conclusion of bye-elections on August 16, 2025, which were held across 12 states, covering two senatorial, five federal, and nine state assembly constituencies, along with two court-ordered reruns in Enugu and Kano States.
Certificates of Return have been issued to the respective winners.
A major focus of the briefing was the November 8, 2025, Anambra State Governorship Election.
She confirmed that 10 out of 13 preparatory activities have been successfully completed.
She said the remaining critical milestones include the publication of the Notice of Poll on October 25 and the official end of campaigns on November 6.
Other future elections mentioned included the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections, scheduled for February 21, 2026, which have seen eight of its 13 preparatory activities completed.
Also noted were the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship Elections, for which the official Notices of Election have been published ahead of their June 20 and August 8, 2026, dates, respectively.
The nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise was also reviewed.
The exercise began online on August 18, 2025, followed by in-person registration on August 25, and is scheduled to run until August 30, 2026.
Agbamuche-Mbu expressed satisfaction with the registration turnout, calling it a reflection of Nigerians’ confidence in the democratic process.
Furthermore, she disclosed that INEC has processed 171 applications from groups seeking to be registered as political parties, with 14 of them meeting the constitutional and legal prerequisites to advance to the next stage of the process.
Comprehensive details regarding these associations are now publicly available on the Commission’s website.
Responding on behalf of the CSOs, Ezenwa Nwagwu, the Executive Director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), extended congratulations to Agbamuche-Mbu on her historic emergence as only the second woman to serve as Acting Chairman of INEC.
Nwagwu pledged the civil society community’s continued support and solidarity with the Commission’s leadership.
He stressed the importance of the Anambra governorship poll and called on the Commission to prioritise the competence and accountability of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and electoral officers.
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He noted that the “quality of sub-national elections hinges on the integrity and capacity of those who administer them.”
He also commended INEC for consolidating its recent technological innovations and urged its optimisation.
