Awka, Anambra — Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, has directed that all election materials must arrive at their designated polling units by 7:00 a.m. on election day, with voting to commence at 8:30 a.m. sharp.
Amupitan issued the order on Sunday during readiness inspections at INEC offices in Awka and Oyi LGAs, according to his spokesman, Dayo Oketola. He warned that the Commission would not tolerate delays in logistics or personnel deployment.
“Every material must be at the polling unit by 7 a.m. Polling must start at 8:30 a.m. without excuses. Nigerians deserve a process that begins and ends on time, and INEC is determined to meet that standard,” the chairman said.
Reaffirming INEC’s preparedness to deliver a peaceful, transparent, and credible poll on November 8, Amupitan cautioned against attempts by “vested interests” to undermine the process. He stressed operational efficiency, transparency, and strict adherence to procedures across the results chain.
- Collation must take place in the presence of party agents.
- Declared results must align with records captured by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
Amupitan conducted the inspection alongside National Commissioners May Agbamuche-Mbu, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, and others, noting that stakeholder collaboration remains central to credibility.
“We are committed to carrying every stakeholder along. Transparency and partnership remain the bedrock of our credibility,” he added, citing ongoing coordination with political parties, security agencies, civil society and the media.
Providing an operational update, the Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, said all non-sensitive materials have been dispatched to the state’s 21 LGAs, while BVAS devices have been configured, tested, and certified ready.
“We have left nothing to chance. From the training of personnel to the deployment of materials, every necessary step has been taken to ensure a smooth, credible, and technology-driven election,” Agwu said.
She added that generators have been positioned at strategic locations to guarantee uninterrupted power supply during voting and collation.
- 7:00 a.m.: All materials at polling units
- 8:30 a.m.: Polls open
- Collation: In open view with party agents; BVAS data to match declared results
INEC urged voters, parties, and observers to adhere to guidelines, emphasizing that punctual deployment and strict compliance with technology-backed procedures are essential to a credible outcome.
