# As part of its continued efforts to ensure disability inclusive participation in elections in Nigeria TAF Africa, under the European Union support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria has organised a one day training programme for election observers ahead of the Anambra State Governorship election coming up tomorrow, November 8, 2025.
The event held in Awka, brought together election observers as well as Persons With Disabilities, PWDs who were registered by TAF Africa for the purposes of observing how PWDs were treated by the INEC and other key players in election process.
Speaking at the event, the CEO and Founder of TAF Africa, Ambassador Jake Epelle, represented by the senior Programme Officer, TAF, Mr. George Anwayi who received the participants at the programme, noted that TAF Africa is all out to ensure that PWDs are treated as humans and not neglected in matters that affect their lives such as elections as provided in the 2022 Electoral Act, noting the importance of equipping the observers well in election coverage, which he said is what informed the training.
Addressing the participants, the Programme Manager TAF Africa, Mr. Adeolu Kilanko who gave an overview of TAF Africa’s Election Inclusion Strategy under the EU SDGN 11 programme, recalled that TAF Africa has trained seventy two PWDs in political positions on leadership, advocacy, embarked on media sensitisation campaign, Able to vote, bridging media and the disability community for inclusive participation in Anambra election so that there will be increase in number of PWDs who contest for elections, increase in number of PWDs given appointments and positions, increase in number of accessible polling units and assistive devices and more.
Speaking on understanding the role of election observers and expected conduct/ security tips and personal safety for observers on election day, , the Senior Communication Officer, TAF, Lynn Agwuncha, urged observers to look out for the level of voter turnout among PWDs, the availability and functionality of assistive devices like Braille, magnifying glasses among others while, Jachimike Odibo who is the I T Consultant TAF, taught the participants how to upload their observations through the TAF Africa app for effective monitoring of the Anambra State election.
# Over fifty-five students under the scholarship scheme of the Orumba South LGA Chairman, Hon. Azubuike Shedrack, paid him a courtesy visit at the council headquarters, Umunze.
The visit was a show of appreciation for the Mayor’s continued investment in education and his commitment to supporting the academic aspirations of youths in Orumba LGA.
During the visit, the students expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the local government boss, for his generosity and encouragement, noting that his scholarship initiative has eased the financial burden on their parents and given them renewed hope for a brighter future.
As a token of appreciation, they presented him with a framed portrait, symbolizing their respect and admiration for his leadership and vision.
Responding, Mr. Azubuike thanked the students for their gesture and encouraged them to remain focused and dedicated to their studies. He reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering support for education, emphasizing that empowering young people through learning remains a top priority for sustainable community development.
# As the 2025 Off-Cycle Anambra State Gubernatorial Election approaches on November 8, a coalition of observers accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed high confidence in Anambra’s election preparedness, an assessment announced during a press conference focused on the upcoming electoral event.
The coalition’s evaluation draws on information from over 350 observers spread across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
During the press conference held in Awka, coalition representatives including Augustine Okafor from the Grassroot Development Centre for Peace and Social Justice as well as Sarki Danjuma from the Initiative for Promotion and Civic Obligation for Sustainable Peace, praised INEC for its effective organizational strategies and timely preparations leading up to the election, adhering to established guidelines, issuing the official election timetable, conducting Continuous Voter Registration, and ensuring the transparent distribution of both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials.
The coalition also recognized the efforts of security agencies and the state government in improving safety measures, particularly in areas that have previously faced challenges due to crime and commended the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other security leaders for deploying over 60,000 personnel across the state to safeguard the election.
# In preparation for the Anambra State gubernatorial election scheduled for November 8, 2025, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Muhammad, has deployed 1,500 FRSC personnel and logistics vehicles to ensure a smooth election process.
The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, welcomed the Corps Marshal to Anambra State. She briefed him on the activities that have taken place in the past week leading up to the election, which included training sessions conducted by INEC officials, security meetings, the signing of a peace accord by contestants, and the certification of vehicles designated for transporting electoral materials by FRSC personnel.
Additionally, Asekhauno informed him of the further deployment of personnel and logistics vehicles from nearby states including Edo, Delta, Imo, and Enugu. She noted that FRSC will collaborate with other security agencies to block all entrances into Anambra starting at 1200 midnight on Friday in order to restrict movement.
# Hamilton and Thelma Ezeonu Foundation has commenced distribution of school bags to over fifteen thousand pupils in forty five public primary schools within Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The Foundation distributed the bags to pupils in all public primary schools at Nnobi, Awka-Etiti, Nnokwa, Alor and Ojoto.
The Head of the Foundation, Chief Hamilton Ezeonu represented by his wife, Dr. Thelma Ezeonu while speaking,
explained that the gesture is their own way of giving back to the society that contributed to their success aimed at discouraging pupils from using nylon bags to carry their books and other educational materials.
The philanthropist who revealed that the gesture will be extended to all public primary schools in Akwa-Ukwu and Oba, noted that it will help to protect learners’ books and other learning materials from getting destroyed and also bring succour to their parents.
# Anambra State Government calls on all eligible voters across the state to come out en masse and actively participate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The Commissioner for Information,
Anambra State, Dr. Law Mefor, in a press statement emphasises that full voter participation is a fundamental expression of civic responsibility and a vital demonstration of commitment to democratic governance.
“Active participation in this election is particularly important to reverse the low voter turnout recorded during the 2021 governorship election, when only about 200,000 of the over 2.7 million registered voters exercised their franchise.
“As the Light of the Nation, Anambra has consistently taken the lead. Ndi Anambra should therefore, once again lead by example by turning out in large numbers to vote peacefully and responsibly”. Mefor stated.
# The managers, and the departmental heads of Regina Caeli Specialist Hospital, Awka, on Friday 7th November 2025, concluded its strategic annual operational planning retreat, making a projection into the year 2026, for optimal and standard healthcare service delivery.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Rev. Fr. Innocent Afusim, the aim of the the event was to evaluate and identify the weaknesses, the strengths and progresses the hospital made this year, and see how it could make corrections on the weaknesses, and amplify the strengths as well as the progresses, for the coming year.
The event, which took place at Archbishop A. K. Obiefuna Retreat and Pastoral Centre, Okpunno-Awka, and brought together the line managers, the supervisors and the heads of departments of the Hospital, was a six-day event.
The details of the event, which began on Sunday November 2 with an episcopal address of the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, represented by the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev Fr Charles Ndubuisi, presentations of units reports, among others.
# TAF Africa, a disability inclusion organisation has deployed a team of one hundred and fifty trained observers to monitor Anambra governorship election across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The Chairman PWD Elections Hub, and Board member, TAF AFRICA, Dr. Amina Bala-Zakari made this known during a pre-election media briefing on the participation of persons with disabilities in the 2024, Anambra governorship election, organised in Awka by TAF CEO/Founder, Ambassador Jake Epelle and their partners where they made it clear that the observers will observe the level of compliance with priority voting rights for persons with disabilities, accessibility of polling units, attitude of polling officials towards PWDs, communication experience of deaf voters and overall experience of voters with disabilities.
Dr. Zakari noted that out of the two million, eight hundred and two thousand, seven hundred and ninety registered voters in Anambra, three thousand, four hundred and fifty six persons are are with disabilities and said that 2025 Anambra governorship election presents a vital opportunity to assess how far Nigeria has progressed in guaranteeing equal electoral participation for citizens with disabilities.
Earlier, Ambassador Epelle went down memory lane on the activities of TAF towards inclusion of PWDS in politics in Nigeria especially since they have right to take part in electing their leaders, saying that they are looking forward to a time when PWDs will occupy high political positions in Nigeria through election, even as he charged INEC and all the actors involved in tomorrow’s election to treat PWDs with dignity, before, during and after the governorship election.
