The National Independent Authority for Elections (ANIE) has reported a rise in the number of candidates for local assemblies ahead of the November 28 polls compared to the 2021 elections. The number of candidates for municipal councils (APC) has reached 141,388, a 22.7% increase, while candidates for provincial assemblies (APW) rose to 21,476, reflecting a 13.56% growth. This trend is linked to the country's new administrative reorganization, which increased the number of provinces to 69, resulting in more seats being available for contestation: up by 6.76% for municipalities and 21.48% for provinces. Despite a slight decline in the number of electoral lists for municipalities, the total number of candidates has shown a clear upward trend.