The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed receiving accreditation applications from 43 media organisations seeking to cover the upcom
ing Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
A total of 363 journalists and media personnel have applied to participate in the election coverage, according to acting INEC Chairman May Agbamuche-Mbu, who spoke during the commission’s third quarterly consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja on Wednesday.
“The Commission’s Media Accreditation Portal for the Anambra Governorship Election was opened on September 1, 2025. As of this morning, we have received applications from 43 media organisations covering 363 individuals,” she stated.
Agbamuche-Mbu emphasized that accreditation is not only a prerequisite for access to polling units and collation centers but also a key element in ensuring transparency and election security.
She noted that accredited tags will feature scannable security codes for real-time verification by INEC officials and security personnel.
“These tags are vital to our transparency and security measures. We strongly urge all applicants to complete their accreditation before the deadline. There will be no extension beyond midnight, October 24, 2025,” she warned.
She further urged journalists to maintain professionalism and ethical standards, especially in combating misinformation and disinformation during the electoral process.
“You play a critical role in protecting the integrity of the information space. We rely on you to ensure that accurate and responsible reporting defines this election period.”
So far, INEC has successfully completed 10 of the 13 scheduled pre-election activities.
The remaining key milestones include:
October 25: Publication of the official Notice of Poll
November 6: Final day of campaign activities
November 8: Election Day
The Commission also disclosed that all non-sensitive materials have already been deployed to Anambra State, while coordination with security agencies continues to ensure a peaceful and orderly poll.
Agbamuche-Mbu reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to a credible and transparent election, calling on the media to partner actively in safeguarding the process.
“Our doors remain open for verification and clarification. Together, we can safeguard the credibility of the electoral process.”
Speaking at the event, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yahya Alhassan, praised INEC’s engagement with the media and called for stronger collaboration ahead of not just the Anambra election, but all future electoral events.
“This engagement is timely and crucial. The media is not just an observer, but an essential player in ensuring credible, transparent, and peaceful elections,” Alhassan said.
He urged journalists to focus on accountability, fairness, and accuracy, and called on INEC to continue supporting journalist training, access to accurate data, and fact-checking mechanisms to counter fake news.
“The reforms INEC has introduced — from technological tools to inclusivity and transparency, must be effectively communicated to the public. That’s where our role becomes pivotal.”
INEC confirmed that 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the November poll.
The Commission has already released the final list of candidates and officially flagged off campaign activities.
A total of 16 political parties met the submission deadline of May 12, 2025, and will field candidates in the race.
The meeting was attended by editors, media executives, senior journalists, members of the INEC Press Corps, and representatives of media regulatory bodies and associations.
