The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 43 media organisations have applied for accreditation to cover the upcoming 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 exercise.
Speaking during the third quarterly consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja on Wednesday, the Acting INEC Chairman, May Agbamuche-Mbu, disclosed that the commission’s Media Accreditation Portal for the 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 media accreditation is not just an administrative procedure but a critical component of INEC’s election security and integrity framework.
She added that accreditation tags will include scannable security codes to enable instant verification of journalists by security agencies and INEC officials.
“These tags are vital to our transparency and security measures,” she noted. “We strongly urge all applicants to complete their accreditation process before the deadline. There will be no extension beyond midnight on October 24, 2025.”
The acting chairman urged journalists to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, particularly in combating misinformation and disinformation 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 said.
Agbamuche-Mbu revealed that INEC had completed 10 of the 13 scheduled activities ahead of the poll. The remaining milestones include the publication of the Notice of Poll on October 25, the final day for campaigns on November 6, and Election Day on November 8.
She confirmed that all non-sensitive election materials have been delivered to the state, while the commission is working closely with security agencies to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
“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, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) President, Yahya Alhassan, commended INEC for deepening engagement with the media, describing the meeting as “timely and essential” to strengthening democracy.
“The media is not just a passive observer but an active participant in shaping credible, transparent, and peaceful elections,” he said. “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.”
Alhassan called for greater collaboration between INEC and the media, particularly in capacity building, fact-checking, and timely access to information.
He also praised INEC’s ongoing reforms in election management, noting that such initiatives must be effectively communicated to the public to foster trust and participation.
The meeting was attended by media executives, editors, senior journalists, members of the INEC Press Corps, and representatives of professional and regulatory media bodies.
INEC has confirmed that 2.8 million voters are registered to participate in the election, with 16 political parties submitting candidates by the May 12, 2025 deadline.