'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged political parties contesting the 2025 Anambra State governorship election to adhere strictly to their scheduled timelines for primary elections, warning that abrupt changes could disrupt the electoral process and increase costs.
This was contained in a press statement released on Thursday, March 6, 2025, by the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun. The statement followed INEC’s weekly review meeting, which focused on preparations for the off-cycle Anambra governorship election slated for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
According to INEC, the timetable and schedule of activities for the election stipulate that political parties must conduct their primaries between March 20 and April 10, 2025. However, while 12 out of the 19 registered political parties have submitted their detailed primary election schedules, seven parties have yet to comply.
"The seven parties that are yet to submit the required information are hereby reminded to do so in earnest," the statement read, emphasizing the need for timely compliance.
INEC stressed that frequent and unplanned changes to primary schedules, including date, venue, and mode of the election, create logistical challenges for the commission. Such disruptions result in unnecessary demobilization and remobilization of election monitoring staff, affecting overall electoral workflow and increasing operational costs.
“As agreed in our last consultative meeting with political parties in January, early submission of schedules will enable the Commission to plan for the effective monitoring of the primaries in line with the provision of Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022,” the statement added.
Political parties are therefore advised to strictly follow their submitted schedules to ensure smooth coordination and compliance with electoral laws. INEC reiterated its commitment to fair and transparent elections and emphasized that adherence to procedures would enhance credibility and efficiency in the electoral process.
With the governorship election drawing closer, all eyes will be on the political parties to see if they comply with the electoral guidelines or risk facing potential logistical and legal complications from INEC.
