Anambra Guber: INEC releases final list of candidates, sets campaign timetable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially published the final list of candidates for the 2025 governorship election in Anambra State.

In a statement signed on Wednesday by the commission’s spokesperson, Sam Olumekun, INEC confirmed that a total of 16 political parties successfully uploaded the particulars of their governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the November 8, 2025 poll.

The commission explained that no further withdrawal or replacement of candidates would be permitted, except in the event of a candidate or running mate’s death before election day, as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2022.

According to the statement, the deadline for the submission of candidates’ details was 6:00 pm on Monday, May 12, 2025, while parties had until June 2 to substitute any candidate who voluntarily withdrew.

INEC noted that out of Nigeria’s 19 registered political parties, 16 will participate in the Anambra election. It further disclosed that the African Action Congress (AAC) and the National Rescue Movement (NRM) are presenting female governorship candidates, while six other parties — Accord (A), All Progressives Congress (APC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Boot Party (BP), Labour Party (LP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) — are fielding female deputy governorship candidates.

The statement added that no candidate living with a disability was nominated by any party, and the ages of the confirmed candidates range between 36 and 71 years.

“The full list of candidates by party, age, gender, and academic qualifications has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” the commission said.

In addition, INEC announced that election campaigns for the Anambra governorship election will officially begin on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, and must end at midnight on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The electoral body reminded political parties and candidates of their obligations to conduct campaigns peacefully, warning against abusive language, violence, and the destruction of campaign materials belonging to opponents, as provided under Sections 92 and 93 of the Act.

INEC also stressed that every candidate must have unrestricted access to public facilities for campaigns, rallies, media advertisements, and meetings, cautioning against the misuse of incumbency for political advantage or to the detriment of other contestants.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the use of incumbency to the advantage or disadvantage of any party or candidate,” the statement concluded.