CDD-West Africa Commends Peaceful Conduct of CVR Ahead of November Governorship Elections in Anambra State

24 July 2025

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) commends the peaceful conduct and the enthusiastic participation of citizens in the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Anambra State. Reflecting on the exercise, which, alongside the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) exercise, was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from July 8 to 20, CDD-West Africa congratulated INEC as well as commended the people of Anambra State for a hitch-free exercise.

The exercise, which targeted first-time voters, individuals seeking to replace lost or defaced PVCs, transfer registration, or correct their voter data, witnessed an impressive turnout across all 21 local government areas (LGAs) of the state. The exercise was initially scheduled to end on July 17, but was extended by three days to July 20, following public demand and logistical realities.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) deployed citizen observers across all 21 LGAs during the exercise to assess adherence to INEC guidelines, identify challenges, evaluate inclusivity and transparency of the processes.

Across all three senatorial districts and registration centres, the observers deployed by CDD reported an overwhelming turnout of residents eager to exercise their civic duty. Citizens of all voting age—young and old—came out en masse, demonstrating a commendable sense of patriotism and civic responsibility. While many were focused on registering to vote, quite a number had the opportunity to transfer or relocate their voting centres. It was also observed that as many as complained or presented defaced PVC were duly attended to. This collective effort underscores the enduring spirit of democracy and highlights the importance of active participation in shaping the future of both Anambra State in particular and Nigeria at large.

CDD also commends INEC for its unwavering dedication and professionalism observed throughout the exercise. Its efforts in ensuring that eligible voters had the opportunity to register and authenticate their eligibility for the upcoming November 8th governorship election are highly commendable, believing that it will repeat the same efforts during the election.

However, while the exercise was largely successful, several challenges emerged that must be addressed to ensure future elections are both credible and inclusive:

The Registration Process:

Severely Hampered by single Machine
Our observers reported that the exercise was severely marred by the deployment of a single machine across most of the centres observed. Network glitches were rampant and further slowed down the process, causing frustration and dropout of would-be voters. This was notably observed at Ogbaru and Onitsha South LGAs. It was further observed that the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) facial recognition recorded frequent failures, even as machines were reportedly programmed to automatically log off by 3pm in some centres observed.
PVC Distribution
Distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) was observed to be inconsistent for the most part of the exercise. While some centres in Awka South distributed PVCs, others only attended new cases of registration, transfers, or replacements, as observed in Ogbaru LGA, and Nnokwa, in Idemili South AGA. Transfer requests were observed to be mostly made by mobile phone codes, with external technicians sometimes assisting in that regard.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
It was observed that priorities were often given to women, nursing mothers, and the elderly. Across areas observed. However, there were no dedicated facilities (ramps, Braille, sign language etc) for PWDs nor were there dedicated desks or support staff to assist them, thus forcing them to stand in long queues without priority access. They faced difficulties navigating the registration process. This was commonly observed in Oyi and Nnewi South LGAs.
Equipment and Infrastructure
Many registration units were under-equipped, with only one BVAS machine deployed at most centres. Our records show that 63% of visited centres had fully functional equipment, while 37% experienced system failures, delays, or complete absence of personnel. These issues slowed down registration, caused crowding, and led to frustration among registrants. For example, delays of over two hours were reported in some centres in Ihiala and Ogbaru LGAs.
Data Capture and Verification
Although most biometric data — fingerprints and facial photos — were captured correctly, inconsistencies such as incomplete data entries, issuance of temporary slips without proper documentation, and attempts by underage individuals to register were observed. In some areas, lax age verification raised concerns about the integrity of the voter register.
Fairness and Transparency
Reports indicate that certain groups — such as local community leaders, party agents, and individuals with prior knowledge of INEC officials — were allowed to bypass queues or register behind closed doors during ’private sessions.’ These practices undermine transparency and could erode public trust in the process.
Security Concerns
Security was largely inadequate, with 69% of locations lacking visible security presence. In volatile areas like Ihiala and Ogbaru, the absence of police or civil defence personnel left officials and registrants vulnerable to intimidation or conflict. Some vigilante groups and community youths attempted to maintain order without formal authority or training.
Turn-Out
Turn-out was observed to be generally high, except in areas impacted by insecurity (e.g. Ihiala - where registrants moved to LGA Headquarters). The large turnout caused difficulty in crowd and queue management. While some centres in Onitsha North and Dunukofia LGAs maintained orderly queues, others, such as Njikoka and Aguata LGAs, experienced poor crowd control, long wait times, and disorderly scenes. Limited registration centres, especially in densely populated areas like Obosi and Ndikelionwu Ward in Orumba North LGA, contributed to long queues and frustration among prospective registrants. Technical issues, including poor network connectivity, further hampered the process.
Stakeholder Engagement
High visibility of political parties (especially APGA) and government appointees, providing logistics (canopies, chairs, refreshments) were observed in some centres.

In light of these challenges, CDD welcomes INEC’s decision to extend the registration period by an additional three days, providing an opportunity for more eligible citizens to participate. It also commends the Anambra State Government for declaring a work-free day — an encouraging gesture to facilitate greater voter registration.

Conclusion

Overall, voter satisfaction is relatively high (58%), but this figure should be interpreted cautiously, as it may mask underlying operational inefficiencies. CDD thus calls on political parties to actively educate, mobilize, and motivate their supporters to utilize the registration window fully. Active civic engagement is essential for a vibrant democracy, and political leaders must emphasize the importance of responsible and peaceful participation.

CDD will publish a comprehensive report on the CVR exercise in Anambra State, offering detailed insights, highlighting key challenges, and providing recommendations for future improvements. In conclusion, as we reflect on this phase of voter registration, we remain optimistic about the prospects of an inclusive, credible, and participatory electoral process. We urge INEC to keep registration facilities open until every eligible citizen in Anambra has had the opportunity to register and obtain their PVCs for the November elections. Together, we can build a stronger democracy rooted in active civic engagement.

Signed,

Dauda Garuba, PhD.
Director,
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa)