As preparations intensify for the November 2025 Anambra State governorship election, Yiaga Africa has embarked on a series of advocacy visits to critical stakeholders in the state to promote peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections.
The advocacy mission, led by Yiaga Africa’s Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbalumu, featured engagements with key institutions including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the Nigeria Police Force.
The visits were designed to strengthen collaboration, assess the electoral environment, and ensure effective coordination among stakeholders ahead of the polls.
Speaking during one of the engagements, Mbalumu emphasized that “a credible election is not the sole responsibility of INEC, but a collective effort that requires active collaboration between security agencies, political actors, civil society, and citizens.”
Media and CSO Roundtable
Yiaga Africa also convened a joint roundtable with civil society organizations (CSOs) and the media to discuss electoral reforms, political trends, and security concerns in the state. The discussion provided stakeholders with a platform to deliberate on strategies to rebuild public trust in the electoral process, particularly around the credibility and independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Participants raised concerns about vote buying, insecurity, and voter intimidation during recent by-elections, warning that unless offenders are prosecuted, these issues may undermine voter confidence and turnout in the upcoming governorship election.
Recommendations from the roundtable included:
- Scaling up voter education and sensitization, especially targeting young and first-time voters.
- Encouraging greater participation of the elite class, who often abstain from voting, to reduce the vulnerability of elections to vote buying.
- Strengthening security deployment in flashpoint LGAs such as Ihiala, Nnewi, Orumba North/South, and Aguata to encourage citizens, including persons with disabilities, to vote without fear.
Election Observation and PRVT System
As part of its Watching the Vote (WTV) initiative, Yiaga Africa announced plans to deploy 255 trained observers across scientifically selected polling units on election day. Yiaga Africa will rely on its Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology, a tested statistical and technology-driven system that provides real-time information on election processes and verifies official results announced by INEC.
The PRVT uses a combination of representative sampling techniques and SMS-based data transmission to ensure accurate and verifiable reports from polling units. This approach not only enhances transparency but also builds public confidence in the credibility of the process.
Yiaga Africa reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure that the November 2025 Anambra governorship election is peaceful, transparent, and credible. Through advocacy, observation, and reform campaigns, the organization seeks to strengthen citizens’ trust in the democratic process and guarantee that the will of the people prevails.
