ElectHER, a Pan-African non-partisan organization promoting gender-inclusive democracy, recently concluded a two-day initiative in Awka, Anambra State. The effort combined a multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion with an advocacy visit to security agencies, strategically timed just weeks before the November 8, 2025, governorship election.
The Stakeholder Engagement Roundtable, held on September 17 at the Radisson Onyx Hotel, Awka, brought together representatives of INEC, 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 (EU-SDGN) programme, which partners with civil society to deepen electoral integrity and inclusion.
While speaking during the engagement, ElectHER CEO, Ibijoke Faborode, noted that the state has a legacy of women’s political visibility, from Dame Virginia Etiaba’s tenure as Nigeria’s first female governor to consistently high numbers of female legislators. She added that a pre-assessment report by ElectHER highlights a striking contrast: despite Anambra’s 5.6 million residents and 5,720 polling units, and with women making up 58% of new voter registrants, they currently occupy only 0.6% of elected positions. She described this as 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,” she said.
On her part, Zigwai Tagwai, ElectHER’s Democracy and Governance Programs Lead, 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. Mr. Chukwudi Philip, a journalist, urged the media to intensify fact-checking and avoid amplifying unverified claims. Mr. Gabriel Okpaleze called for electronic transmission of results to prevent delays that often fuel disillusionment. Comrade Ernest Nnoli pressed for more effective deployment of BVAS technology and systematic verification of information to counter fake news. Civil society groups, including the Development for Community Democracy Advocacy Initiative (DECODA), the Centre for Development and Empowerment of Knowledge (CEDEK), and the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) 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 the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the commission pledged to expand ad hoc staff recruitment beyond 26,000 and improve polling unit management. Also, Civil society organisations committed to voter mobilisation and citizen hotlines, while media representatives vowed to strengthen ethical reporting. 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.
On September 18, ElectHER followed the roundtable with an advocacy visit to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). State Commandant CMDT. Maku Olatunde reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to safeguarding the elections before, during, and after the polls. He 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.
