The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received applications from 43 media organisations seeking accreditation to cover the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
According to the commission, a total of 363 journalists and media personnel are expected to participate in covering the poll.
Speaking at INEC’s third quarterly consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja on Wednesday, the acting INEC Chairman, May Agbamuche-Mbu, said the Media Accreditation Portal for the election opened on September 1, 2025, and that applications are still being processed.
“As of this morning, we have received applications from 43 media organisations for 363 individuals,” Agbamuche-Mbu stated.
She explained that media accreditation is a key requirement for access to polling stations and collation centres, forming an important part of INEC’s election security and integrity framework.
The accreditation tags, she said, would feature scannable security codes to allow instant verification by security agencies and INEC officials.
“These tags are vital 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 warned.
Agbamuche-Mbu urged accredited journalists to conduct their duties with professionalism and ethical responsibility, particularly in combating fake news and misinformation during the election period.
“You play a critical 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 added.
The acting chairman confirmed that INEC has completed 10 out of 13 scheduled pre-election activities for the Anambra poll. Remaining milestones include:
- Publication of the Notice of Poll on October 25
- End of campaigns on November 6
- Election day on November 8
She also disclosed that non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the state, and the commission is working closely with security agencies to ensure a peaceful and credible exercise.
“Our doors remain open for verification and clarification on any matter. Together, we can safeguard the credibility of the electoral process,” Agbamuche-Mbu affirmed.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yahya Alhassan, commended INEC for engaging the media ahead of the poll, describing the meeting as “timely and essential.”
“The media is not just a passive observer but an active participant in shaping credible, transparent, and peaceful elections. Our duty is to ensure that citizens are well informed, that political actors are held accountable, and that the process is reported with accuracy, fairness, and responsibility,” he stated.
Alhassan also applauded INEC’s ongoing electoral reforms, including the deployment of technology and emphasis on transparency and inclusivity, while calling for capacity building for election reporters and stronger fact-checking collaborations.
“These reforms must be effectively communicated to the public, and that is where the media comes in. It is through our reports and analyses that citizens develop trust and understanding of the system,” he added.
The meeting was attended by media executives, editors, senior journalists, and members of the INEC Press Corps, as well as representatives of professional media associations and regulatory bodies.
INEC confirmed that 2.8 million voters are registered to participate in the election and that 16 political parties met the candidate submission deadline of May 12, 2025.
