By Media360Impact, Abuja
The Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, has reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to credible, transparent, and inclusive elections across Nigeria.
She made this known during the quarterly consultative meeting with political parties held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the INEC headquarters in Abuja. The meeting brought together leaders of registered political parties, National Commissioners, and senior INEC officials to review ongoing electoral activities and preparations for upcoming polls.
Agbamuche-Mbu expressed appreciation to political parties for their consistent participation in the Commission’s quarterly engagements, describing the forum as vital for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Reflecting on the recent leadership transition, she paid tribute to the immediate past Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who bowed out of office on October 7, 2025. She lauded Yakubu’s decade-long service, noting that his tenure left behind “a legacy of innovation, institutional strength, and integrity that reshaped electoral management across Africa.”
Providing updates on ongoing election preparations, the Acting Chairman revealed that INEC successfully conducted bye-elections in 12 states on August 16, 2025, covering two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and nine state constituencies. Certificates of Return have since been issued to all winners in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.
She added that preparations are in top gear for the Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025, noting that 10 out of the 13 key activities in the election timetable have been completed. The Commission, she said, is finalizing logistics, voter sensitization, and security coordination for a smooth exercise.
“The Commission is committed to strictly following the remaining activities as detailed in the timetable. We urge political parties to adhere to the campaign timelines and avoid violations,” she stated.
Looking ahead, Agbamuche-Mbu disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections will hold on February 21, 2026, across 68 constituencies in the six Area Councils — Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. She confirmed that eight of the thirteen scheduled activities have already been completed.
On voter registration, the Acting Chairman reported strong participation since the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began nationwide on August 18, 2025 (online) and August 25 (in-person). The exercise will run until August 30, 2026.
“We are encouraged by the enthusiasm of Nigerians towards the CVR. It shows citizens’ belief in democracy and confidence in the Commission’s processes,” she said, adding that weekly registration updates are published on INEC’s official website.
Agbamuche-Mbu also revealed that the Commission received 171 applications from associations seeking political party registration. After thorough assessment, 14 associations met the requirements for the next stage of registration in line with the Constitution and Electoral Act.
She urged political parties to continue collaborating with INEC in deepening electoral integrity, assuring that the Commission remains committed to “building on past gains and delivering elections that reflect the will of the people.”
“INEC will continue to strengthen democracy through inclusive, transparent, and credible processes,” she affirmed.
