10:30 am: Voters lined up to vote at polling units 019, Umudike, Agulu11
10:15 am: Anambra polls start slow as voting materials arrive lateFrom Monday Osayande, Asaba
The Anambra State governorship election on Saturday in Onitsha South commenced on a slow note, as voting materials arrived late in several polling units, with a low voter turnout observed in key areas of the state.
At Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha — the designated venue for Ward 1, Units 18, 19, and 20 — materials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived at about 9:15 a.m., nearly two hours after the official commencement of polling.
By 9:50 a.m., only a handful of voters were seen milling around the polling centres, waiting for accreditation and the commencement of voting. Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were stationed at strategic points to maintain order and ensure safety.
Head of the INEC distribution team in the area, Chika Ogbonnaya, confirmed that all materials meant for the election had been distributed across the wards. However, she gave no reason for the slight delay in dispatching materials to the polling units, a lapse that sparked mild agitation among early voters.
The Anambra governorship election, seen as a crucial test of Nigeria’s democratic resilience ahead of future polls, continues under tight security across the state.
#AnambraDecides2025: As Anambra votes, early turnout remains low amid citizen scepticismFrom Lawrence Njoku, Awka and agency report
The governorship election in Anambra State commenced at exactly 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Udeozo Primary School, Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began accreditation simultaneously at the three polling units within the school premises, with only a handful of voters present at the time.
Read More: https://guardian.ng/politics/anambradecides2025-as-anambra-votes-early-turnout-remains-low-amid-citizen-scepticism/While the exercise took place under the mango trees, some young men were seen playing football on the school field, seemingly indifferent to the ongoing election.
10:05 am:#AnambraDecides2025: Observers express confidence in peaceful poll as security tightens
As voters head to the polls in Anambra State, civil society groups have expressed confidence that the governorship election will hold peacefully despite the heavy deployment of security operatives across the state.
Speaking during an election monitoring exercise, Jake Epelle, Founder of TAF Africa, said the general atmosphere in Anambra remained calm, with residents showing restraint and determination to protect their communities.
“The security situation is not something to worry much about. The Anambra people are peace-loving. Everyone wants to ensure they don’t shed their own blood, so they find ways to secure themselves,” Epelle said in a Channels TV report.
09:55 am: Low turnout as Anambra governorship election begins in AwkaFrom Lawrence Njoku,
The governorship election in Anambra State commenced at exactly 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Udeozo Primary School, Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began accreditation simultaneously at the three polling units within the school premises, with only a handful of voters present at the time.
While the exercise took place under the mango trees, some young men were seen playing football on the school field, seemingly indifferent to the ongoing election.
One of them, who identified himself as Sunday, told The Guardian that he had no interest in voting.“Our votes have not counted in the past, so what is the essence of voting today?” he asked.
An elderly voter, 79-year-old Mr. Ogbodo, who cast his ballot around 8:55 a.m., described the process as “smooth” and expressed hope that it would remain peaceful throughout the day
09:45 am:
09:30 am
09:22 am: Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were spotted at around 8 am at Central School III, Awka South Local Government Area, setting up election materials and preparing polling booths for the day’s election.
It promises to be a tight race in an election that features 16 candidates from 16 political parties vying to unseat the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
08:30 am: The governorship election for Anambra state started at exactly 8.30am at the Udeozo Primary School, Awka, Awka south local government area on Saturday.
Officials of the INEC began accreditation at the three polling units at exactly 8.30 with a handful of voters around.
But while the exercise went on under the mango trees, some young men were playing football at the football pitch of the school.
Some of them who spoke with The Guardian, said they were not “interested in the election”.
One of them, Sunday, stated that “our votes have not counted in the past. So what is the essence of voting today”.
One of th earlier voters at about 8.55am, 79 year old, Ogbodo said the process was “smooth”. He prayed it would continue for the rest of the day. From Lawrence Njoku, Awka
08:54 am: The Anambra State governorship election holds today, Saturday, November 8, 2025 across 21 local governments in the state.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2,802,790 eligible voters at the 5,718 polling booths will decide the fate of Anambra State for the next four years.
Incumbent governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), a leading candidate for the election, is seeking the electorates’ votes for a second term in office.
Soludo is being challenged by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. George Moghalu of Labour Party (LP), Sir Paul Chukwuma, of Young Progressives Party (YPP), Mr. John Chuma Nwosu of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Chioma Ifemeludike, the only female contender of African Action Congress (AAC).
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