Ahead of the upcoming Anambra State November 8th 2025 governorship election, eligible voters have been urged to shun all kinds of inducements and distractions and participate actively.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that this call was made by the Nigerian Situation room, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa),
The election observing bodies, on Friday October 25th 2025, made the call while embarking on an enlightenment campaign in Awka, Anambra State.
The groups said it would be wrong for voters to sale their mandates because of bags of rice, clothing or any amount of money without considering the future impact in society.
Speaking in an interview, the Anambra State Chairman, Nigeria Situationroom, Prince Chris Azor, said the best support needed from the citizenry on election day are to come out en-masse and vote without allowing inducements and other distractions to take them away from polling units.
Azor, who is also the President, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), reassured voters that their votes would count having engaged with key stakeholders and forged effective network for protection of their mandates.
“Today’s procession is climax of our activities towards ensuring that Anambra November 8th governorship poll records a massive turnout of voters, be credible and hitch-free as already planned by the INEC.
“We have galvanised and empowered the stakeholders to support in making it a reality. Anambra voters will come out en-masse and vote. Not only voting, protect your votes. With mandate protection, our votes will count.
“We have special observers; trained and empowered to work on election day. We have the crew to counter information disorder. We are appealing to the media to set agenda on voters apathy and mobilise people to vote massively for the candidate of their choice.
“Let the people know that it is their right to vote and protect their votes. We are doing everything necessary to ensure that people votes counts even at collation centres.
” The last Anambra governorship election had low turnout, and now, we have about 2.8 million of persons expected to vote. Democracy is for the people and we need everyone to come out.
” Protect your mandate is the message. Those black spots where election malpractice are done have been mapped out and we have equipped persons that will tackle it”. he added.
Also speaking, CDD election consultant, Mr. Chibuike Mgbeahurike explained that the public enlightenment campaign supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), was aimed at encouraging massive participation on the November 8 poll.
Mgbeahurike, recalled that Anambra State has suffered low voters turnout for long, and enjoined eligible voters yet to collect their voters cards to quickly visit their registration centres (electoral wards) for the collection and get ready to use them in exercising their franchise.
The election consultant said that when the masses vote en-masse on election day, it would boost the election integrity, lead to emergence of a popular candidate and deepen democracy for massive socioeconomic development.
‘The organisation and their partners have held series of engagement campaigns with stakeholders such as INEC officers, security apparatus, government institutions and parastatals, media, civil society members, political parties, traders, among others, leading to establishment of mandate protection network and fact-checkers for credible conduct of November 8 poll.
“The idea is to encourage the masses to shun every form of distractions on election day. We want them to shutdown their shops, businesses and other engagements and go to their polling units to exercise their franchise.
“It is your right to join in electing whoever will govern you in the next four years because democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“We are discouraging voters apathy. We want the outcome of the election to be a popular one. We can assure you that your votes will count. Your mandate will be protected. Don’t collect money to vote.
“We must rise to stop politicians from taking us for granted. We will keep voting until sometime happens. We are partnering with the security and other stakeholders to protect your mandate.
“Elections have always been transactional. Selling of votes cannot earn you anything. Exercising your franchise is important so that a popular winner will emerge”
“Currently, our democracy is facing alot of challenges and this is an opportunity to reflect and make it better” he stated.
