Nigeria’s electoral body announced Saturday that nearly 37 percent of results from the hotly contested Anambra governorship poll have been uploaded to its online viewing platform, signaling steady progress toward final tallies amid high voter enthusiasm.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported the figure via its IReV portal as collation intensified across the southeastern state’s 326 wards, with over 2.3 million registered voters having participated in the race featuring 18 candidates, including incumbent Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“INEC has successfully uploaded 36.99 percent of the polling unit results on the IReV portal as at 3pm today,” the commission stated in an official update. “This demonstrates our commitment to transparency and real-time accountability in the electoral process.”
Early uploads showed strong showings in urban strongholds like Awka and Onitsha, where APGA maintained leads, though Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challengers reported upticks in rural areas. Soludo, after casting his vote earlier, expressed optimism: “The people of Anambra have spoken decisively. We are confident in the numbers rolling in.”
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra, Betty Nnadi, addressed minor delays attributed to network glitches in remote locations but affirmed: “Our technical teams are on ground to resolve any hitches. Voting remains peaceful, and we urge patience as the remaining results are processed.”
Security remained tight, with no major incidents reported despite pre-poll tensions. Opposition PDP candidate Valentine Ozigbo, voting in Nnewi, urged vigilance: “Let the uploads continue untainted. This election belongs to the people, not manipulators.”
Collation at the local government level is slated to wrap by midnight, paving the way for state headquarters announcements Sunday. Analysts view the smooth digital transmission as a win for new INEC chair Joash Amupitan, potentially restoring faith ahead of 2027 national polls.
