The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resumed the collation of results for the Anambra governorship election, following a brief suspension in the early hours of Sunday.

Officials of the commission, election observers, journalists, and other stakeholders reconvened at INEC’s headquarters in Awka, Anambra State, at about 2:10 a.m. when the exercise resumed. After results from 19 local government areas had been announced, the officials took a short break before proceedings recommenced around 6 a.m.

The collation followed a largely peaceful election conducted across the state on Saturday. Sixteen political parties and their candidates, including the incumbent governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, contested the poll. While no major incidents of violence were reported, low voter turnout and reports of vote-buying dominated discussions among stakeholders and observers.

95% of Results Uploaded on IReV

As the collation continued, INEC announced significant progress in the electronic transmission of results from polling units across the state.

Checks by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed that over 95 per cent of results from the 5,720 polling units had been successfully uploaded as of early Sunday morning.

According to the data, 5,472 polling units had completed the upload process, reflecting a marked improvement in the efficiency of result transmission compared with previous elections. INEC reiterated that the uploaded results remain secure and verifiable throughout the process, underscoring its commitment to credible and transparent elections.

Observers Applaud INEC’s Conduct, Note Logistical Challenges

Meanwhile, the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), one of the accredited observer groups for the election, has commended INEC for prioritising the needs of the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) during the exercise.

The CTA Election Experts Team Lead, Prof. Alex Asigbo, disclosed this in Awka on Saturday while presenting the group’s preliminary findings after monitoring the election across the 21 local government areas.

Asigbo said the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) deployed agents to all polling units, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party achieved 93.8 per cent and 37 per cent coverage, respectively.

“Many political parties failed to deploy agents to several polling units, leaving aspects of the process unmonitored,” Asigbo said. “This not only created gaps in transparency but reflected a broader lack of commitment to credible electoral practices.”

He noted that although the election was peaceful, late arrival of INEC officials and materials delayed the commencement of voting in several polling units. About 68 per cent of the polling units opened between 8:25 a.m. and 9 a.m., while roughly 31 per cent commenced between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The group also lamented that some vehicles hired to transport election officials failed to return for subsequent pick-ups after initial drop-offs, further compounding the logistical delays.

Despite these challenges, Asigbo said CTA observers confirmed that INEC officials adhered to electoral guidelines by granting priority to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, the elderly, and PWDs.

He reported that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned effectively in over 80 per cent of polling units, though a few voters could not be accredited or were not found on the register where they presented themselves.

Asigbo, however, urged INEC to address its recurring logistical shortcomings, as highlighted in CTA’s pre-election briefings. He also attributed voter apathy to lingering doubts about electoral credibility and general disinterest among citizens.

While commending INEC for the improved efficiency of its processes, he cautioned against the premature closure of polls, noting reports of ad hoc staff ending voting and announcing results as early as 2:19 p.m., contrary to the official 2:30 p.m. closing time.

“As at 4:48 p.m., 3,861 results had been uploaded to IReV, representing 67 per cent,” he said. “We urge citizens to take civic duty seriously, while INEC and political parties must intensify voter education efforts. The people of Anambra conducted themselves peacefully, but political parties still need to play a more active role in strengthening our democracy.”