The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has released a report on the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Anambra State, noting encouraging signs of expanded access while highlighting persistent challenges.
Dr. Dauda Garuba, CDD Director, made the announcement in Abuja during the unveiling of Professor Victor Adebola Olubunmi Adetula as the new chairman of CDD’s Election Analysis Centre (EAC) and the presentation of the Anambra CVR Observers’ Report.
Dr. Garuba noted that conflict-prone areas continue to face limited outreach and logistical setbacks, reflecting broader systemic gaps across the country. He also raised concern over more than five million uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) nationwide, warning that if left unresolved, millions of citizens could be excluded from the 2027 elections—potentially undermining participation and electoral legitimacy.
The report recommended strengthening the credibility of Anambra’s off-cycle governorship election, future by-elections, and the 2027 general polls through improved technological infrastructure, logistics, and voter outreach by INEC.
Prof. Adetula, who succeeds Prof. Liasu Adele Jinadu after 14 years of service, brings decades of expertise in democratic governance. He is expected to lead efforts in monitoring electoral trends and providing data-driven insights ahead of the 2027 elections.
Dr. Garuba emphasized that the appointment signals CDD’s commitment to enhancing electoral analysis, governance monitoring, and long-term oversight. He added that the EAC’s scope will expand beyond election observation to include governance assessments, with lessons from upcoming elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states informing preparations for 2027.
“Among the new insights is the issue of drilling down on the CDD Mandate Protection work, which will be tested in the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election in November, and subsequently in Ekiti and Osun states in 2026,” Dr. Garuba explained.
He concluded that these efforts reflect CDD-West Africa’s dedication to evaluating Nigeria’s democratic processes, particularly in light of the 2025 by-elections and ongoing CVR exercises, as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
