By Ovat Abeng
The Anambra State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has commence its interactive engagement meeting with relevant stakeholders including the media ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Commission flags off the event at its headquarters in Awka on Friday, October 9th, 2026.
In her opening speech, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anambra State, Dr. Mrs Queen Elizabeth Agwu, said the meeting is to announced to people of Anambra that the commission under her watch in the state is fully committed and ready to conduct a peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible election.
She however, warned eligible voters in the state that possession of a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) remains a requirement for voting in the 2027 polls, urging registered voters to obtain their cards, keep them safe and prepare to exercise their civic responsibility.
She cautioned members of the public against being misled into believing that they could participate in the forthcoming general elections without a PVC, stressing that the card was essential for voter accreditation and participation in the electoral process.
“Don’t be deceived. Get your PVC and be ready to vote. Handle your PVC with care and keep it in a safe place,” she said.
The REC emphasised that eligible voters must ensure they possess their PVCs ahead of the elections, urging those who had registered within the stipulated period to take the necessary steps to verify their registration details.
She specifically called on those who registered between January and July to check the published register of voters, confirm that their names had been correctly captured and report any errors or discrepancies for necessary corrections.
“The names of those who registered between January and July have already been published. Go and verify your names and make observations if there are any discrepancies,” she added.
She said that INEC had continued to train its personnel and upgrade its technological infrastructure and information and communications technology (ICT) equipment to ensure a smooth electoral process.
She expressed confidence in the Commission’s level of preparedness, assuring stakeholders that measures were being taken to minimise technical challenges and prevent disruptions during the elections.
The REC also disclosed that INEC had deployed 5,720 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to cover the state’s 5,720 polling units.
According to her, the Commission had additional BVAS machines in reserve to replace any equipment that might malfunction during the exercise, thereby ensuring that accreditation could proceed with minimal disruption.
Agwu, who noted that the general elections were approaching, stressed the need for sustained preparations and cooperation among electoral stakeholders to ensure a credible and peaceful process.
She also expressed disappointment over the absence of the Anambra State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr Eminence Ugochukwu, who had been invited to the stakeholders’ meeting.
She described the absence as unbecoming, given the importance of political parties and their representatives in the electoral process, stressing that IPAC’s position and contributions were pivotal to the Commission’s efforts to achieve credible elections.
According to her, regular engagement with political parties and other stakeholders was necessary to promote transparency, build confidence in the electoral process and address issues that could affect the conduct of the elections.
The REC further disclosed that INEC was reshuffling some of its personnel in Anambra State, particularly Electoral Officers and other local government-level staff, as part of efforts to strengthen the Commission’s operations ahead of the general elections.
She explained that the redeployment exercise was a routine administrative measure intended to inject fresh energy into the system, improve efficiency and ensure that personnel remained effective in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Agwu dismissed suggestions that the transfers were politically motivated or designed to favour any candidate or political party, insisting that the exercise was undertaken in the overall interest of the Commission and the successful conduct of the elections.
“This is a civil service system, and it is normal because some officers may have stayed too long in one place, creating the possibility of taking certain things for granted,” she said.
She further explained that retirements and promotions had also necessitated the redeployment of personnel to fill vacancies and ensure that the Commission’s operations continued without disruption.
“Again, some officers may have retired. In Anambra State, we witnessed a lot of retirements in August, so we need to post new people to those positions. Also, those who have been promoted have moved up, leaving their former positions vacant. Therefore, new postings have become necessary,” she added.
The REC maintained that the staff reshuffling had no political undertones and was not intended to please or disadvantage any candidate, but rather to strengthen the Commission’s capacity to deliver a credible electoral process.
The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by representatives of political parties, candidates and other relevant stakeholders, who were expected to contribute to discussions on preparations for the forthcoming general elections and the need to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process in Anambra State.
