…As Chairman Holds Meeting with ICCES in Abuja
From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
As the Anambra governorship election draws near, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, and credible poll scheduled for November 8, 2025.
According to the Commission, every operational, security, and logistical detail has been carefully planned and tested ahead of the exercise.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, gave the assurance during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The meeting brought together representatives of the National Security Adviser (NSA), security and law enforcement agencies, the Director-General of the NYSC, and other stakeholders to review operational readiness for the forthcoming election in Anambra.
Professor Amupitan revealed that the Commission recently conducted a mock accreditation exercise in 12 polling units across six local government areas of Anambra State using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). He said although minor network issues were recorded, all challenges had been addressed ahead of full deployment on election day.
Explaining further, the INEC Chairman said the Commission would deploy 24,000 personnel across 5,718 polling units in the state, while collation of results will take place at 326 ward centres, 21 local government collation centres, and the final collation in Awka, the state capital.
Amupitan also disclosed that voting would not take place in two polling units due to the absence of registered voters.
He announced an extension of the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise in Anambra, following reports that only 63.9 per cent of registered voters had collected their cards. The exercise, initially scheduled to end on Sunday, October 26, will now continue from Wednesday, October 29, to Sunday, November 2, 2025, across all 326 registration areas (wards) in the state.
On logistics preparedness, the INEC boss said the Commission had concluded agreements with major transport unions, including the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), for the movement of election personnel and materials.
“We have hired 200 buses and 83 boats to guarantee seamless deployment of personnel and materials, including to riverine areas,” he assured.
The INEC Chairman warned that any attempt by individuals or groups to undermine the integrity of the election would not be tolerated, stressing that the Commission would deal decisively with cases of vote-buying and other electoral malpractices.
“Vote buying remains a menace contaminating the soul of Nigeria’s democracy. Any attempt to induce voters before or during the election must be resisted and curtailed,” he warned.
He called on security and law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant and proactive, noting that the credibility of the Anambra election depends on their collective resolve.
“The Commission is pleased with our collaboration with law enforcement agencies, especially the anti-graft bodies, to stop vote buyers from contaminating our electoral process. Security agents cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate during the Anambra election.
“Together, let us combat vote buying, uphold the values of democracy, and work relentlessly for credible elections. The path ahead may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve,” Amupitan stated.
The INEC Chairman commended the synergy among security agencies, describing their cooperation as indispensable to credible elections. He revealed that a high-level ICCES meeting was recently held in Awka, where security chiefs presented detailed reports on operations and flashpoint monitoring across the 21 local government areas.
“The Anambra election must be better coordinated than any before it. Synergy among all security agencies is non-negotiable, particularly at a time when the credibility of our elections is paramount,” he said.
Amupitan further called for unity and vigilance, reminding stakeholders that the credibility of the Anambra governorship election would be a reflection of Nigeria’s democratic maturity.
“The security agencies have been steadfast, and the Commission is fully ready. What remains is our collective resolve to make this election one that strengthens public trust and deepens our democracy,” he added.
In his remarks, the representative of the National Security Adviser, Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi, who is the Director of Internal Security at the ONSA, said the Federal Government had approved robust, intelligence-driven security arrangements to safeguard the electoral environment.
He assured that the Office of the NSA remained fully committed to the President’s directive on strategic mobilisation of security forces during the electoral period.
“We have put in place enhanced surveillance, sufficient security deployment, and improved intelligence gathering to prevent any attempt by disruptive elements or desperate politicians to undermine the electoral process,” Abdullahi said.
He also urged political parties and their supporters to adhere to peaceful conduct, warning that any form of violence or malpractice would not be tolerated.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Shogunle, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, disclosed that over 45,000 police officers would be deployed to Anambra State for the election.
He said only federal agencies represented in ICCES would be permitted to participate in election security operations, while vigilante groups and non-statutory outfits would have no role to play.
Shogunle added that tactical units would be deployed from November 1 for pre-election operations to dismantle potential threats, while movement restrictions would be enforced on election day. He noted that all entry and exit points into Anambra would be adequately manned.
In his goodwill message, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General O. O. Nafi’u, assured the Commission of the corps’ readiness to participate in the election.
Brigadier-General Nafi’u commended INEC and security agencies for guaranteeing the safety, welfare, and insurance of corps members who would serve as ad hoc staff.
He appealed to the people of Anambra State to treat corps members as their own children and ensure their safety, adding that he would be physically present during the election to oversee their welfare and protection.