…INEC set for mock accreditation, police promise maximum security

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has expressed confidence in securing victory in the November 8, 2025, governorship election, citing the massive grassroots support across the state.
 
However, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), John Nwosu, challenged the donation of funds to the governor by various communities.Describing the development as deeply troubling, Nwosu said the donations breach electoral laws.
 
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the date for the voters’ Mock Accreditation Exercise in select polling units across the three senatorial districts of the state.
 
With the development, the police have assured residents of maximum security during the exercise and on November 8.

Speaking during a campaign rally in Dunukofia Local Council, the visibly elated governor said he was encouraged by the overwhelming enthusiasm of the people, noting that they had “taken ownership” of his campaign.

“I appreciate the people of Dunukofia for their strong backing during my first election. We won resoundingly here in 2021, and I am confident of victory again. I have been assured that we will win in all wards and polling units in this local government,” Soludo declared.
 
During the visit, Soludo inaugurated the newly constructed Dunukofia Legislative Building and addressed local council officials, emphasising that the local government system in Anambra was functioning effectively.

ACCORDING to a statement signed by the INEC Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, the exercise will allow INEC to test-run the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), its response and uploading of results on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal ahead of the polls.
 
The statement reads, “The Commission will conduct a Mock Accreditation Exercise on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in selected polling units across the three senatorial districts of the state. This exercise will allow INEC to test the upgraded BVAS, assess its response time, and test the uploading of results on the IReV portal ahead of the main election.”
 
To ensure that journalists work in line with the Nigerian media code of elections coverage and with the support to media, which is under Component 4 of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance programme in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) during the November 8 election, The International Press Centre (IPC) and Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) organised a two-day media forum on ‘Enhanced Reportage, Inclusivity and Accountability of Stakeholders towards Anambra Gubernatorial Polls’ in Awka.
 
The forum entailed consultations and interactions with critical stakeholders from the security agencies, National Orientation Agency (NOA), media and facilitators, towards giving civic voter education and ensuring inclusiveness of women, youths and persons with disability in the electoral process to deliver a credible election at the end.
 
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, at the event, assured the public of maximum security during the polls, as measures had been put in place with other state commands and other security agencies to achieve that. He called on relevant bodies to sensitise the public on the dangers of vote-buying and the need to vote with conscience.