Less than two weeks to the Saturday, 8th November, 2025, governorship election in Anambra state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to clamp down on vote-buying, violence and other electoral malpractices during the exercise.

The Commission stressed that integrity, security, and credibility would characterise the poll.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the declaration Tuesday at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja. 

The meeting, co-chaired by the National Security Adviser (NSA), brought together heads and representatives of security, intelligence, and other law enforcement agencies to review operational readiness for the election.

Amupitan warned that any attempt to induce voters before or during the election must be resisted and curtailed, describing vote-buying as a menace contaminating the soul of Nigeria’s democracy. 

He urged all security agencies to remain vigilant and proactive, stating that the credibility of the Anambra election would depend on their collective resolve. 

“The Commission is pleased with our collaboration with law enforcement agencies, especially the anti-graft agencies, 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 the credibility of our elections. The path ahead may be challenging, but if we stand united, there is nothing we cannot achieve,” said the INEC boss.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness for the November 8 election, saying every operational, security, and logistical detail had been carefully planned and tested. 

 …Testing BVAS 

He explained that the Commission had recently conducted a mock accreditation in 12 polling units across six local government areas of Anambra state using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). 

While recalling that though minor network issues were recorded, the INEC boss assured that all identified challenges were being addressed ahead of full deployment on election day.

…On personnel, collation, security

Amupitan revealed that INEC would deploy 24,000 personnel across 5,718 polling units in Anambra state, while voting would not take place in two polling units due to the absence of registered voters. 

He further said that collation of results would be done at 326 Ward Centres, 21 Local Government Area Collation Centres, and the final State Collation Centre in Awka.

He also reaffirmed the extension of the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise in the state, following reports that only 63.9% of registered voters had collected their cards. 

The exercise, initially slated to end on Sunday, 26th October, will now continue from Wednesday, 29th October to Sunday, 2nd November, 2025, across all 326 registration areas (Wards) in the state. 

“Our mandate is to conduct credible elections, and we are determined that no eligible voter should be left behind,” he said.

…Logistics 

On logistics, the INEC chairman disclosed that 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 those to riverine areas,” he said.

Amupitan 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, during which security chiefs provided 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.

He 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 declared.

 …NSA’s remarks

Representing the National Security Adviser, Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi, Director of Internal Security Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), assured that the federal government had approved robust, intelligence-driven security arrangements to secure the electoral environment. 

He said 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,” he said. 

Abdullahi stated that political parties and their supporters must adhere to peaceful conduct, warning that any form of violence would be met with a strong, uncompromising response.

Echoing this commitment, Commissioner of Police Abayomi Sogunle, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, announced that 45,000 police officers would be deployed to Anambra state for the election. 

“Only federal agencies represented in ICCES will be permitted to participate in election security operations. Vigilante groups and non-statutory outfits will have no role to play,” he stated. 

He disclosed that tactical units would be deployed from 1st November for pre-election operations aimed at dismantling potential threats, while the usual restriction of movement would be enforced on election day. All entry and exit points into Anambra state would be adequately manned.

 …NYSC on corps members’ security 

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General O.O. Nafi’u, praised the assurances by INEC and security agencies on the safety, welfare, and insurance of corps members who would serve as ad hoc staff. 

He assured the Commission of the Corps’ continued support and readiness to participate in the election. 

“Our corps members are patriotic, vibrant, and committed to credible elections. We appeal to the people of Anambra state to treat them as their own children and ensure their safety,” he said, promising to be physically present in Anambra during the election to oversee their welfare and protection.