Yiaga Africa, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee full compliance with voter accreditation using Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and timely upload of polling unit results (Form EC8A) to the IReV portal in this Saturday’s Anambra governorship election.
According to Yiaga Africa, non-compliance should trigger clear sanctions as prescribed by the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
In a pre-election press statement, executive director of YiagaAfrica, Samson Itodo, and the chairman of the 2025 Anambra Election Mission, Dr Asmau Maikudi, Yiaga Africa urged security Agencies to provide adequate security for INEC to facilitate early deployment election personnel and materials.
Yiaga Africa said it is deploying Watching the Vote as part of a broader civil society election
observation hub supported by the European Union under the EU Support for Democratic
Governance Project (EU-SDGN).
It explained that the Election Observation Hub comprises organizations such as Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Nigeria Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER and TAF Africa.
The statement said, cumulatively, the Hub is deploying 687 observers across Anambra State, working in coordinated clusters that cover election integrity and results verification, disability.
inclusion, gender participation, peacebuilding, media and misinformation tracking, logistics observation, and real-time data reporting.
“Ahead of the governorship election, the Election Observation Hub issued a Joint Pre-election Assessment Report. The report analysed the political climate, security risks, media environment, and levels of gender and disability inclusion and offered 66 actionable recommendations to strengthen electoral credibility, voter access, and institutional preparedness.
“..INEC(must) strengthen oversight of logistics and deployment -ensure strict supervision of the deployment of personnel and materials by holding transport companies accountable to their contractual obligations.
“Clarify Polling Unit consolidation in Ihiala -provide timely and detailed information regarding voting arrangement in Ihiala LGA, where voting has been consolidated due to insecurity, to avoid voter confusion and disenfranchisement.
“Guarantee full compliance with voter accreditation using BVAS and timely upload of polling unit results (Form EC8A) to the IReV portal. Noncompliance should trigger clear sanctions as prescribed by the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
“Security agencies(must) provide adequate security for INEC to facilitate early deployment election personnel and materials. Prevent Infiltration by Non-Statutory Security Groups: Establish and enforce clear protocols to exclude vigilante and other unconventional security outfits from election security roles. Their involvement should be expressly prohibited to maintain public trust.
“Uphold neutrality and professionalism; ensure that security personnel operate without political bias. Security operations must be non-selective, avoiding intimidation or harassment of political actors, voters, accredited observers, and journalists.
“Prioritise intelligence-led deployment in identified flashpoints to deter violence, reassure voters, and prevent escalation of conflict on election day.
“Arrest and prosecute vote buyers-proactively identify and arrest all individuals engaged in vote buying on election day. Collaborate closely with INEC officials at polling units to ensure swift response and enforcement.
“Political parties(should) fulfil their obligations under the Peace Accord by refraining from violent rhetoric, vote buying, and ensure full compliance with the electoral laws and guidelines,” it added.
