The 2025 Anambra Governorship Election: An Observer’s Reflection on Nigeria’s Electoral Democracy and the Path Forward

The 2025 Anambra governorship election, conducted amidst a landscape of institutional fragility, general citizens disillusionment, voter apathy, a groundswell of disinformation, widespread fiscal transactions, all of which, serves as both a mirror and a catalyst for Nigeria’s broader democratic journey. Observing through the lens of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), it was evident that this election was more than just a local contest. It is a critical test of Nigeria’s democratic resilience, institutional integrity, and political competitiveness—issues that currently resonate deeply across the country’s electoral landscape. It also provides necessary clues towards re-strategizing for a more inclusive, transparent, and robust electoral future—particularly preparatory to the upcoming gubernatorial contests in Osun and Ekiti, and the pivotal 2027 national elections.

Pre-Election Challenges: A Troubling Prelude

Pre-election assessments revealed systemic weaknesses that threaten to undermine Nigeria’s electoral credibility. Despite an ‘impressive’ PVC collection rate of 98.8%, voter turnout was expected to remain disappointingly low, reflecting deep-seated voter apathy and distrust in the electoral process. The relatively sizable deployment of observers across all 21 LGAs uncovered logistical gaps—uneven BVAS allocation and uneven distribution of a whopping 60000 deployment of security personnel—all of which diminished public confidence, and exposed systemic weaknesses that Nigeria must urgently and incrementally address to deepen its democratic resilience.

More fundamentally, the political environment was marred by intra-party crises, weak issue-based campaigns, and entrenched incumbency advantages. The dominance of the incumbent APGA and the governor’s influence—amplified through regulatory barriers like the N50 million permit fee for outdoor campaigns—further stifled genuine electoral competition. These issues highlight the urgent need for electoral reforms that promote fairness, transparency, and level the playing field.

Strategic Imperatives for Nigeria’s Democratic Future

The insights from this election highlight several strategic pathways Nigeria must pursue—not just to fix immediate concerns, but to embed transformative reforms that safeguard long-term democratic integrity.

The Leadership Change at INEC: A New Dawn or Status Quo?

One of the most significant recent developments shaping Nigeria’s electoral landscape was the leadership change within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The election took place against the backdrop of the departure of the former INEC Chair, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who had been at the helm during many of Nigeria’s recent elections. His tenure was marked by mixed reviews—commendable efforts at introducing technological innovations like BVAS and the IReV result portal, but also persistent challenges related to logistics, transparency, and the politicization of the electoral process.

Just before the Anambra election, Nigeria swore in a new INEC Chair, Professor Joash Amupitan, amid high expectations. The transition signals an opportunity for Nigeria to either continue with “business as usual” or embark on a path of meaningful electoral reforms. The new leadership faces the enormous task of consolidating gains made, addressing lingering weaknesses, and restoring public confidence in the electoral process.

The question remains - will Nigeria leverage this leadership change to implement bold reforms—such as refining the electoral legal framework, improving the deployment and maintenance of technology, and strengthening transparency and accountability mechanisms—or will it settle for superficial fixes that do little to curb electoral malpractices? The incoming INEC leadership’s ability to navigate these challenges will have profound implications for Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.

It is my hope that Nigeria should leverage this transition to embed a long-term agenda—one that harnesses technological advancements beyond the current limiting tendencies. This shift is vital in turning election management into a resilient pillar of democracy rather than a reactive response to crises.

Leveraging Technology for Democratic Deepening

While Nigeria has made strides with BVAS and result transmission platforms (iRev), the future of Nigeria’s electoral integrity hinges on evolving these tools into comprehensive, secure, and adaptive systems. Innovations in biometric verification, real-time transparency mechanisms, and cybersecurity are essential. Nigeria must also develop frameworks to combat emerging disinformation threats—especially those fuelled by AI—ensuring that technology remains an enabler of trust, not manipulation.

Disparities in Voter Allocation: A Cause for Concern

The uneven distribution of voters across polling units presents a significant challenge to electoral fairness and efficiency. Some polling stations serve over 3,000 voters, while others accommodate as few as 70. Such disparities can, and indeed led to logistical issues, including overcrowding, longer waiting times on the queue, and resource strain at high-volume centers, which may discourage voter participation and undermine confidence in the electoral process. Conversely, low-turnout units risk underutilization of resources and questions about their legitimacy. Recognizing these imbalances is crucial for addressing systemic inequities and ensuring that all voters have equal opportunities to participate effectively in democracy.

To foster a more equitable and inclusive electoral environment, it is essential to address the underlying structural disparities in voter allocation. Such measures will help distribute voters more evenly across polling units, reduce logistical burdens, and improve access to voting facilities.

Building a Robust Ecosystem Against Malpractice

The deployment of diverse observers—from soldiers of mouth - tracking disinformation, to Mandate Protection observers - reporting infractions in real time—underscores Nigeria’s recognition of multifaceted electoral threats. Moving forward, Nigeria must institutionalize multi-layered oversight—integrating technological solutions with community-based monitoring, legal enforcement, and civic engagement—to pre-empt, detect, and respond swiftly to malpractices such as vote buying, violence, and disinformation.

Cultivating a Democratic Culture of Participation

Voter participation and turnout in the Anambra election remain abysmally low—only 21.4%—despite high registration figures put at 2.8 million by INEC. Youth disengagement, attributed to disillusionment and logistical frustrations, coupled with persistent barriers for women and persons with disabilities, underscores the need for deliberate inclusion policies. Transforming electoral participation from a transactional practice into a community-driven expression of democratic action is vital for societal cohesion and legitimacy.

The Role of CSOs in Upholding Electoral Integrity

There is an urgent need for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria to rise and actively challenge the pervasive misconduct by erring and criminally-minded politicians. Many of these politicians are notorious perpetrators of violence, who also engage in transactional politics, and manipulate post-election processes to serve their interests. CSOs must be proactive in building a post-election synergy that signals to the Judiciary and other institutions that Nigeria's democracy cannot be subverted through legal manipulations or electoral malpractices. By fostering a strong, united front, CSOs can exert pressure for accountability and ensure that electoral misconduct is met with appropriate consequences, thereby reinforcing the sanctity of the democratic process.

The Role of Political Parties and Civic Education

A notable gap during the 2025 elections was the lack of meaningful engagement by political parties in civic and voter education initiatives. Going forward, political parties must invest in clear manifesto development and voter education campaigns, emphasizing issue-based politics and accountability. This will help shift the focus from money politics towards substantive engagement and policy debates, strengthening the democratic fabric.

The Importance of Post-Election Review and Stakeholder Convergence

A critical aspect of strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system lies in establishing a robust post-election review mechanism. It is essential for INEC, CSO observers, and other stakeholders to convene after each election to assess what aspects of the process worked effectively and where improvements are needed. Such a convergence will facilitate honest reflection, policy adjustments, and the development of best practices for future elections. Regular and systematic reviews can help in identifying emerging challenges and fostering collaborative solutions, ultimately contributing to more credible and transparent elections.

Deepening Partnerships with Donor and Foreign Missions

It is commendable that the UK FCDO and the European Union Special Delegation to Nigeria (EUSDGN), as well as the EU foreign observer mission have demonstrated unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s democratic development. Their multi-layered funding to various stakeholders and CSOs has been instrumental in empowering civil society and enhancing electoral oversight. More importantly, the EU mission's innovative approach of tracking the implementation of their recommendations sets a benchmark for accountability and transparency. Strengthening and deepening these partnerships will be vital for sustaining democratic gains, ensuring that recommendations are not merely advisory but lead to tangible improvements in electoral conduct.

New Frontiers Beckon: Vote Trading, Early Voting, Diaspora Voting

Nigeria must also consider innovative reforms to address emerging challenges. These include: 

• Prosecuting offenders of vote trading with clear legal frameworks and enforcement measures to deter this undermining of electoral sovereignty.
• Facilitating diaspora voting, recognizing Nigerians abroad as part of the electoral ecosystem, thereby broadening participation and strengthening national unity.
• Implementing early voting options for essential service providers—such as INEC personnel, election observers, healthcare, and security personnel—who are often unable to vote due to logistical constraints, thereby ensuring their representation.

The Road to 2027: Building Democratic Resilience

As Nigeria looks ahead to Osun, Ekiti, and the 2027 elections, it is imperative that this next electoral cycle is markedly better than the ones before it. Achieving this requires a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach—one that goes beyond legislative support and technical upgrades. Nigeria’s electoral future depends on a purposefully reformed, patriotic INEC that recognizes its constitutional responsibility to conduct free, fair, and credible elections. It demands resourceful civil society organizations such as CDD, supported by donors, equipped with the independence and capacity to vigilantly observe the process.

This collective effort must be aimed at delivering elections characterized by transparency, inclusivity, and integrity—fundamental pillars for democratic consolidation. The success of the 2027 elections hinges on political will, civic engagement, institutional responsibility, and sustained reform efforts. 

Lessons for 2027 and Beyond

The insights from 2025 should serve as a blueprint for Nigeria: 

• Electoral institutions must be capacitated, depoliticized, and prepared to manage complex logistics and emerging technological challenges.
• Legal reforms should be expedited, with clear sanctions against electoral offences, vote trading, and violence.
• Technological upgrades must be continuous, with robust safeguards against manipulation and disinformation.
• Civic education must be scaled up to foster an informed, engaged, and issue-focused electorate.
• Resource allocation should be data-driven, ensuring equitable access across all regions and communities.
• Stakeholders—including civil society, media, political parties, and international partners—must collaborate to promote transparency, accountability, and societal trust.

Conclusion: Envisioning Nigeria’s Democratic Horizon

Nigeria’s democratic future is contingent upon its ability to learn from each electoral cycle and to implement strategic, systemic reforms. The 2025 election underscores both progress and persistent vulnerabilities—yet it also presents an opportunity to elevate Nigeria’s electoral architecture into a resilient, inclusive, and transparent system.

The upcoming 2027 elections must be a testament to Nigeria’s resolve—a step toward not just better management, but a truly democratic process rooted in purpose, patriotism, and responsibility. The path forward demands unwavering commitment, innovative reforms, and a collective will to uphold Nigeria’s constitutional and democratic ideals. Only then can Nigeria fulfill its promise of justice, accountability, and societal cohesion, forging a democratic trajectory that endures.