Anambra Guber 2025: INEC’s New Boss Faces First Big Test—Can He Deliver?

Just 16 days on the job, and Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, is already in the hot seat. Tomorrow, Anambra State decides its next governor—and for INEC’s fresh chairman, this isn’t just another election. It’s his first real trial by fire.

Amupitan didn’t waste time setting the tone. Right after his swearing-in by President Bola Tinubu, he stood before INEC’s top brass in Abuja and laid it out plain: “Our mandate is clear—free, fair, credible elections. No excuses.” Strong words. But words alone won’t cut it. Anambra’s electorate? They’re watching. The world? Also watching.

“We’re Ready”—But Are They Really?
At the peace accord signing in Awka this week, Amupitan doubled down. “Our responsibility is to the people,” he told the packed room of political heavyweights. “Fair. Credible. Peaceful. That’s what we’re delivering.” Bold promises. But Anambra’s history with elections? Let’s just say it’s… complicated.

Here’s the breakdown:

24,000 INEC staff deployed across 5,720 polling units in 21 LGAs.
60,000 security personnel—police, army, air force, paramilitary—on standby.
The NSA and IGP have issued stern warnings: “Disrupt this election, and you’ll answer to us.”
Sounds solid, right? But then there’s the other side of the story.

EU’s Army of Watchdogs: 687 Observers, One Mission
The European Union isn’t messing around. Under their EU-SDGN programme, they’ve sent 687 civil society observers into Anambra—one of the largest deployments ever for a state election.

Laolu Olawumi, the EU’s democracy and rule-of-law guru in Nigeria, put it bluntly: “We’re here to make sure this election isn’t just free—it’s seen to be free.” Their team? A mix of heavyweights like Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, and Nigeria Women Trust Fund, all working from a unified hub to track everything—from vote-buying to disability access.

And it’s not just about watching. They’ve got sign language interpreters for deaf voters, gender inclusion monitors, even misinformation trackers combing through social media lies. “When we merge all the data,” Olawumi said, “we’ll have the fullest picture of this election anyone’s ever seen.”

But here’s the kicker: Their pre-election report already flagged 66 risks—security threats, low voter turnout, institutional gaps. So yeah, INEC’s got its work cut out.

Peter Obi Weighs In: “No Vote-Buying, Just Let the People Decide”
You didn’t think Anambra’s most famous political export would stay quiet, did you?

Former governor Peter Obi—still riding high from his 2023 presidential run—made a surprise visit to Adazi Nnukwu and Ogidi this week. His message? “I respect all the candidates. But I’m Labour Party, so I’m backing Moghalu. But no vote-buying. Let the people choose.”

He didn’t stop there. When asked about the state creation debate, Obi scoffed. “More states? That’s not our problem. Nigeria needs to work first. Fix what we have before adding more burdens.”

Yiaga Africa’s Warning: Six LGAs on Red Alert
If you’re in Orumba North, Orumba South, Ogbaru, Ihiala, Nnewi South, or Aguata, Yiaga Africa’s got bad news. Their chair, Dr. Asmau Maikudi, dropped a bombshell: “These areas are flashpoints. And worse—young people aren’t even interested in voting.”

Their numbers?

250 stationary observers in key polling units.
22 mobile teams crisscrossing the state.
A grim prediction: Turnout could dip below 20%—a disaster for legitimacy.
“If INEC’s results match what we see on the ground, we’ll confirm it,” Maikudi said. “If not? Well… let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Soludo’s Move: “Take the Day Off—Go Vote”
Anambra’s government isn’t leaving anything to chance. Governor Chukwuma Soludo declared today (Friday) a work-free day for civil servants.

“We want every worker to travel home, cast their vote, and be part of this process,” said Theodora Igwegbe, the Head of Service. “Democracy isn’t a spectator sport.”

A nice gesture? Sure. But will it actually boost turnout? That’s the million-naira question.

The Bottom Line: Can Amupitan Pull It Off?
Tomorrow’s election isn’t just about Anambra. It’s about INEC’s credibility under new leadership. It’s about whether Nigerians can trust the system again. It’s about whether Amupitan’s bold words will translate into action.

The EU’s watching. Yiaga’s watching. Obi’s watching. And most importantly—Anambra’s voters are watching.

Will this be the free, fair election everyone’s demanding? Or will it be another missed opportunity?

One thing’s for sure: By Sunday, we’ll have our answer.