The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received accreditation requests from 43 media organisations, comprising 363 journalists and media personnel, to cover the upcoming Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
Speaking during the commission’s third quarterly consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja on Wednesday, the Acting INEC Chairman, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, confirmed the development.
“The commission’s Media Accreditation Portal for the Anambra State Governorship Election was opened on September 1, 2025. As of this morning, we have received applications from 43 media organisations for 363 individuals,” she said.
Agbamuche-Mbu explained that the accreditation process is not only essential for granting journalists access to polling units and collation centres but also serves as part of INEC’s security and integrity framework for election management.
She disclosed that the accreditation tags will feature scannable security codes that enable instant verification by security agencies and INEC officials.
“These tags are critical to our transparency and security measures. We strongly urge all applicants to complete their accreditation process before the deadline. There will be no extension beyond midnight on October 24, 2025,” she added.
The acting chairman urged accredited journalists to conduct their coverage with the highest level of professionalism and ethical responsibility, especially in combating misinformation and fake news during the election period.
“You play a vital role as a bulwark against fake and misleading information. We count on you to uphold the integrity of the information space during this election cycle,” she stated.
Agbamuche-Mbu further noted that INEC has already completed 10 out of 13 scheduled pre-election activities, with the remaining milestones including the publication of the Notice of Poll on October 25, the end of campaigns on November 6, and the election proper on November 8, 2025.
She assured stakeholders that all non-sensitive election materials have been delivered to the state, while consultations with security agencies are ongoing to guarantee a peaceful exercise.
“Our doors remain open for verification and clarification on any matter. Together, we can safeguard the credibility of the electoral process,” she concluded.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yahya Alhassan, commended INEC for its proactive engagement with the media, describing the partnership as crucial for building trust and transparency.
He urged stronger collaboration between INEC and the media, stressing that journalists are not just observers but key players in ensuring credible and peaceful elections.
“Our duty is to ensure that citizens are well-informed, political actors are held accountable, and the process is reported with fairness and accuracy,” Alhassan said.
The NUJ president also called for enhanced capacity building, fact-checking initiatives, and timely access to electoral information to strengthen media professionalism during elections.
“As we approach future elections, it is imperative that the collaboration between INEC and the media be deepened,” he added.
The meeting was attended by media executives, editors, senior journalists, INEC Press Corps members, and representatives from professional media associations and regulatory bodies.
INEC has earlier confirmed that 2.8 million registered voters are expected to participate in the Anambra governorship election. The final list of candidates and campaign schedule have already been released.
