The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the accreditation of 76 media organisations to cover the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election, scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
According to the Commission, the accreditation exercise encompasses over 508 journalists drawn from broadcast, print, and online media platforms across Nigeria and beyond.
The confirmation was contained in an official document signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, who stated that all accredited organisations successfully fulfilled the stipulated requirements set by INEC.
Distribution of media tags to accredited journalists will take place at the International Press Centre, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat Complex, located behind the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Awka, from Monday, November 3, to Thursday, November 6, 2025, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily.
INEC urged accredited journalists to strictly adhere to the Code of Conduct for Election Coverage, warning that the Commission reserves the right to withdraw or cancel accreditation of any organisation whose representatives engage in unprofessional conduct or violate established electoral coverage guidelines.
To promote transparency, credibility, and public confidence, the Commission disclosed that a select number of media organisations have been granted special access to the Collation Centre for comprehensive coverage of the results collation process. These media houses are required to comply with all security and operational protocols issued by INEC to ensure orderliness and the integrity of the process.
Among the accredited organisations are Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Channels Television, TVC Communications, DAAR Communications, Arise News, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 5 Awka, BBC News, Premium Times, Punch Newspapers, The Guardian, The Sun, Vanguard, and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), among others.
INEC further advised journalists seeking clarification or additional information to contact the Director, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
In a related development, eight of the fourteen political associations earlier pre-qualified for registration have successfully completed the upload of all required documents and information on the Commission’s dedicated registration portal.
The associations that met the submission deadline include the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Green Future Party (GFP), National Democratic Party (NDP), and the Peoples Freedom Party (PFP).
This update was contained in a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr. Sam Olumekun, following the Commission’s regular meeting held on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr. Olumekun recalled that the development follows INEC’s earlier announcement of September 11, 2025, and the subsequent briefing session for the 14 pre-qualified associations held on September 17, 2025.
After the session, the Commission opened its online portal for document uploads between September 18 and October 18, 2025 (midnight deadline).
He further explained that the next stage of the process will involve a comprehensive assessment and verification of all submissions to ensure compliance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022).
Reaffirming INEC’s unwavering commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and democratic consolidation, Mr. Olumekun emphasized that every phase of the registration process would be guided by due diligence, objectivity, and fairness.
He stressed that the registration of new political parties is not a routine bureaucratic exercise, but a critical element of Nigeria’s evolving democratic framework, designed to guarantee that citizens and groups with diverse ideological orientations have legitimate platforms for political participation and governance.
These twin developments the progress in political party registration and the accreditation of media organisations for the Anambra governorship election,underscore INEC’s dual commitment to broadening political participation and enhancing transparency in electoral processes.
While the registration of new political parties strengthens political pluralism and democratic diversity, the active participation of the media reinforces electoral accountability, public trust, and institutional transparency. Together, these efforts highlight the independence of INEC and its central role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
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