Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), May Agbamuche-Mbu, on Tuesday met with leaders of political parties at the quarterly consultative meeting of the electoral umpire in Abuja.
The first two quarterly meetings for the year were held on January 22 and June 26, respectively.
Today’s meeting, the first since Agbamuche-Mbu took charge on October 7, comes as preparations for the Anambra gubernatorial election scheduled for November 8 intensify.
Speaking at the meeting, the Agbamuche-Mbu appreciated the efforts of the immediate-past INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whom she said left behind a legacy of innovation, institutional strength and integrity.
She gave a breakdown of the commission’s activities over the last few months.
Agbamuche-Mbu said, “At the last quarterly meeting, the Commission announced a number of elections and electoral activities; these are the bye-elections in 12 States of the Federation on 16th August 2025, the Anambra State Governorship Election on 8th November 2025, the Area Council Elections in the FCT on 21st February 2026, the Ekiti Governorship Election on 20th June 2026 and the Osun State Governorship Election on 8th August 2026.
“The Bye-Elections held on 16th August, 2025, across two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies and nine State Assembly Constituencies. Two court-ordered re-run Elections were also held in Enugu and Kano States on the same day. Declarations and Return were made across the States where the Bye-Elections held and Certificates of Return have been presented in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“The Commission has released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the other elections and some of the activities have already been carried out, the latest being the commencement of campaign by Political Parties in Anambra State and the FCT and the publication of the Notices of Election for the Ekiti State Governorship Election on 25th June, 2025 and that of Osun State Governorship Election on 13th August, 2025.
“In less than a month, precisely on 8th November, 2025, the Anambra State Governorship Election will be held. The timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Anambra State Governorship Election details 13 (thirteen) key activities to be carried out by the Commission.”
She disclosed that INEC has completed 10 of these activities, including publication of Notice of Poll slated for 25th October, 2025, the Last day for Campaigns – 6th November, 2025 and the date of the Election – 8th November, 2025.
The acting INEC boss reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to keeping strictly to the remaining activities as detailed in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities
“Political Parties are therefore called upon to be mindful of the last day for campaigns and keep strictly to it.
“The Commission has been working assiduously and making arrangements for the successful conduct of the Anambra State Governorship Election and have had several engagements with the Security Agencies at National, State and Local Government levels.
“All non-sensitive materials for the Election have been delivered to the State and Voter Education and sensitisation is ongoing,” she said.
Agbamuche-Mbu disclosed that the Area Council Election in the FCT scheduled for 21st February, 2026, will be held in 68 constituencies made up of chairmen and their deputies for the six Area Councils, namely Abaji, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali, as well as 62 wards drawn on the basis of 10 wards for each area council except AMAC, which has 12 Wards on account of its population.
She further disclosed that the commission received a total of 171 requests for registration of political parties, out of which 14 met the criteria to proceed to the next stage.
“Each request was assessed on the basis of its compliance with the provisions of section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), section 79 (1, 2 and 4) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Clause 2 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.
“Out of the total number of applications received, 14 Associations have met the requirements to proceed to the next stage.
“These details have also been published on our website,” she stated
