ElectHER, a pan-African non-partisan organisation advancing gender-inclusive democracy, has concluded a two-day engagement in Anambra State combining a multi-stakeholder roundtable with an advocacy visit to security agencies, as part of efforts to ensure an inclusive, peaceful and secure governorship election on November 8, 2025.

The stakeholder engagement roundtable, held on Wednesday at the Radisson Onyx Hotel, Awka, brought together representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties, civil society, academia, journalists and grassroots leaders.

Discussions centred on voter mobilisation, women’s participation and strategies to deliver credible, inclusive and peaceful polls. The engagement was convened with support from the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme, which partners with civil society to deepen electoral integrity and inclusion.

Speaking during the event, the Chief Executive Officer, ElectHER, Ibijoke Faborode, noted that Anambra State has a legacy of women’s political visibility, starting from Dame Virginia Etiaba’s tenure as Nigeria’s first female

governor to consistently high numbers of female legislators. 

Faborode added that a pre-assessment report by ElectHER highlights a striking contrast, adding that despite Anambra’s 5.6 million residents and 5,720 polling units, and with women making up 58 per cent of new voter registrants, women currently occupy only 0.6 per cent of elected positions. 

She said, “There is a glaring gap between voter strength and representation, one that must be urgently closed. 

“We cannot allow insecurity and systemic exclusion to silence women in a state where they form such a significant share of the electorate.”

On her part, ElectHER’s Democracy and Governance Programmes Lead, Zigwai Tagwai, noted that collaborative action by INEC, political parties, the media, and security actors would be key to restoring trust and boosting turnout.

In their contributions, stakeholders echoed these concerns with practical recommendations. 

A stakeholder, Chukwudi Philip, urged the media to intensify fact-checking and avoid amplifying unverified claims. 

A journalist, Gabriel Okpaleze, called for the electronic transmission of results to prevent delays that often fuel disillusionment, while Ernest Nnoli pressed for more effective deployment of BVAS technology and systematic verification of information to counter fake news. 

Members of the civil society groups, including the Development for Community Democracy Advocacy Initiative, the

Centre for Development and Empowerment of Knowledge and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene network stressed that misinformation, insecurity and weak party commitments remain key barriers to women’s participation.

The dialogue secured firm commitments from different agencies involved in the electoral process.

During a visit to the office of INEC in Awka, the commission pledged to expand ad hoc staff recruitment beyond 26,000 and improve polling unit management.

Also, Civil society organisations are committed to voter mobilisation and citizen hotlines, while the media representatives vowed to strengthen ethical reporting, and security agencies agreed to preventive deployments at flashpoints and to adopt gender-sensitive protection measures.

Political parties were also urged to engage in issue-based campaigns and shape their messaging around citizens’ real

concerns, including security, jobs and healthcare, while ensuring greater visibility for women candidates.

ElectHER followed the roundtable with an advocacy visit to the office of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, where the State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to safeguarding the elections before, during, and after the polls. 

Olatunde further assured that female officers will be adequately deployed, stressing that inclusivity in security operations is essential to guaranteeing safe and credible elections in Anambra State.

ElectHER pledged to consolidate the insights from both engagements into advocacy briefs and mobilisation campaigns targeting women and youth, while continuing to champion systemic reforms such as the Independent Candidacy Bill and the Reserved Seats Bill.

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