Dare Babalola
Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 2,769,137 voters have collected their PVCs, achieving a 98.8% collection rate out of 2,802,790 registered voters.
The Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, Mrs. Ugomma Leechukwu disclosed this late Friday in a statement to newsmen in Awka, the state capital.
The commission noted that “what makes this feat more striking is the depth of reach at the Registration Area (RA) level, where INEC’s decision to decentralize collection paid off handsomely.”
A report dated November 7, 2025, detailing PVC collection from Registration Areas (document No. 407, Volume 2) indicates robust voter preparedness for the polls.
Leechukwu stated that, “On the eve of the Anambra Governorship Election holding tomorrow, Saturday November 8 2025, the figures from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) tell a compelling story of readiness and resolve.
“From the bustling streets of Onitsha to the farmlands of Ayamelum, Anambra’s voters appear poised to make their voices heard, armed with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected at record rates across the state.”
The statement indicated that, “Out of a total of 2,802,790 registered voters, an impressive 2,769,137 have collected their PVCs, a 98.8 percent collection rate that underscores the people’s enthusiasm and confidence in the process.”
The electoral commission explained that, “In rural settlements and riverine communities that used to grapple with accessibility issues, citizens turned out in their numbers to claim their cards.”
It said, “In places like Ugbene in Awka North, Alor I, Bridge Head II, Ogbunike I and II, and Umunya I and II, every single registered voter collected their PVCs, a perfect 100 percent success rate.
“Even in difficult terrains such as Omor II in Ayamelum and Amaokpala/Omogho in Orumba North, where past elections faced logistical setbacks, the Commission recorded collection rates of over 99 percent.”
The INEC continued, “These figures are not just statistics; they are proof of a system that finally reached the grassroots and of citizens who answered democracy’s call with unmatched commitment.”
The record of the PVCs collection showed that, “Awka South, the state capital, saw 214,841 PVCs collected out of 216,611 registered voters, representing 99.18 percent.”
In Nnewi North, where political awareness and civic culture run deep, 165,394 out of 166,400 voters collected their cards, an astonishing 99.40 percent.
Also, “In Ayamelum, the story is even more impressive: 96,334 out of 96,947 voters collected their PVCs, while in Anambra West, 70,618 out of 71,332 voters did the same, both recording over 99 percent collection rates despite their challenging riverine geography.”
The commission stated that, “The smallest gaps were seen in densely populated areas like Onitsha South and Idemili North, where large voter populations naturally mean higher absolute numbers, but collection rates still soared above 98 percent.”
It maintained that, “The few areas with slightly lower collection rates such as Ekwulobia I (95.3%) and Ogbolo in Ihiala (95.4%) still represent progress compared to historical patterns.
“The average of nearly 99 percent across the state means that, for the first time in many election cycles, almost every eligible voter in Anambra is ready to participate.
“Only 33,653 PVCs remain uncollected statewide, a negligible figure that testifies to the success of the Commission’s approach.
“This success did not come by accident. INEC’s choice to take PVC collection closer to the people, moving it from local government headquarters to the Registration Areas, has been a logistical breakthrough.
“It dismantled barriers of distance and cost that had long discouraged voters in rural areas, ensuring that no community was left behind. From Awka to Ogbaru, from Ihiala to Orumba, citizens responded with energy and ownership.
“Equally decisive was the Commission’s decision to extend the days for PVC collection from October 29 to November 2, 2025. That single move proved to be the master stroke.
“Before the extension, the readiness assessment visit had shown that only about 63 percent of the PVCs in the state had been collected.
The five extra days turned the tide, drawing long but orderly queues at the Registration Areas, particularly in the final 48 hours of the exercise.”
By the end of the extension, Anambra had exceeded expectations, reaching an overall collection rate of 98.8 percent.
“What the numbers now reveal is more than administrative efficiency; it is the story of citizens reclaiming faith in a process that once seemed remote, and of a Commission that listened, adjusted, and delivered where it mattered most,” INEC declared.
