How CJID’s training prepared me for Anambra election coverage – Student observer

During my coverage of the November 8th 2025, governorship election in Onitsha South Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra state. I noticed party agents making calls across to people, telling them that the election has started and they should come out and cast their vote. 

Overall, turnout was still low, but the election was generally peaceful. A few people I had chatted with on the ground to understand why the turnout was low said that people are not happy with the electoral process and the government.

My name is Mr Egbe Charles Chinedu, the observer for Onitsha South LGA. On receiving the news of covering the election, I made up my mind to do my best in the field and to carry out my job properly.

Other observers and I received extensive training on our preparation for the observer work. One very good thing I picked from the training was from the security personnel who taught us on security matters, including the high-risk areas in the state, how to identify hoodlums, and how to know when our environment is not safe and lastly, how to get to safety in case of attack in the polling unit (PU). The training was offered by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

One of the motivations that led me to cover the election was when the security personnel at the training mentioned the number of security personnel the state had made available for the election. This reassured me that it was safe for me to do my job.

 On the morning of the election, November 8, 2025, at 8:00 am, I was at Lafiaji Primary School, one of the Super Registration Area Centres (RAC) centres nearby, to observe how ad-hoc staff and election materials were being dispatched to their various polling units.

Voter accreditation and election started at 8:45 am at the PU in Lafiaji Primary School. Voter turnout was low in some PU, but the election was peaceful in Onitsha South LGA. ‎At the collation centre, I noticed that the security personnel were not giving access to journalists. I had no option but to identify myself as an observer, and that gave me access. 

As a citizen of Nigeria, one of the important aspects of the election coverage is that it helps me to contribute to bringing whatever is happening in the field to the people through the media. It also helps reduce the spread of fake news. Two takeaways from my experience

1. My communication skills: During the course of the coverage, I improved in the way I relate to people.
2. Security : I learnt how to defend myself whenever teargas is shot in the air.  

One thing I would like to change about our election process is voter tension : it’s one of the factors that causes the low turnout of voters. The coverage helped me to see this as an issue because at some PU the turnout was low. 

Generally, working for CJID was a good experience, and I would like to continue working for the organisation. It brought out the best in me regarding my communication skills. I am forever grateful to the team that trained us and ensured we were well-prepared for the job. Once again, thank you, CJID.

This is a reporter’s diary by Egbe Charles Chinedu, capturing firsthand observations from the field during the Anambra Elections. Documented under the Next Gen Project, it offers a ground-level narrative of the process, the people, and the unfolding moments that shaped the electoral experience.