The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, has warned that any attempt to induce voters before or during the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election will be firmly resisted by the Commission and security agencies.
He disclosed that the commission will deploy 24,000 personnel for the election.
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), held at INEC headquarters.
Amupitan, who co-chairs ICCES alongside the National Security Adviser, said the Commission was fully prepared for the polls.
He assured that every logistical and operational detail had been addressed in collaboration with security agencies and transport unions.
He revealed that voting would take place in 5,718 of the 5,720 polling units in Anambra State, noting that the remaining two polling units had no registered voters.
According to him, results will be collated at 326 ward centres, 21 local government area centres, and finally at the state collation centre in Awka.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the state from Wednesday, October 29, to Sunday, November 2, 2025, following reports that only 63.9 per cent of registered voters had collected their cards.
He said: “We recently conducted a Mock Accreditation Exercise in 12 selected polling units in 6 Local Government Areas of Anambra State, using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). Although we encountered some network challenges, efforts are being made to ensure a seamless election on November 8, 2025, and we are ready for large-scale deployment on Election Day.
“We plan to deploy 24,000 personnel. The election will be held in 5,718 of the 5,720 Polling Units in the state; voting will not take place in the remaining two Polling Units due to the absence of registered voters.
“Results will be collated at 326 Ward centres, 21 Local Government Area centres, and finally at the State Collation Centre in Awka.
“Due to the report of the high-powered delegation of four National Commissioners to Anambra State that only 63.9 per cent of the voters collected their PVCs, the Commission met yesterday and decided to extend the ongoing collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Anambra State, starting from today, Wednesday, 29th October, until Sunday, 2nd November 2025.
“This extension is aimed at ensuring all eligible voters can collect their cards at the designated collection centres across the 326 Registration Areas (Wards) in Anambra State. Our mandate is to conduct credible elections, and we are determined that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised.
He said the commission has the mandate to conduct credible elections, and “we are determined that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised,”
He disclosed that INEC had concluded arrangements with transport unions, including the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), to provide 200 buses and 83 boats for the movement of election personnel and materials.
On vote-buying, Amupitan said: “We must join hands to combat the menace of vote buying. 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.
“Any attempt to induce voters before or during the Anambra election must be resisted and curtailed. Security agents cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate during the election. Together, let us combat vote-buying, uphold the values of democracy, and work relentlessly for credible elections.”
He reaffirmed his personal commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections that reflect the will of the Nigerian people, describing the Anambra governorship election as a test of the nation’s collective resolve to strengthen democracy.
On his part, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, assured voters any form of violence during the elections will be met with a strong, uncompromising response, saying the federal government had put robust security measures in place for the poll.
Ribadu, represented by the Director, Directorate of Internal Security, Office of the NSA, Hassan Abdullahi, said security agencies remain fully committed to fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on the strategic mobilisation of security forces during the electoral period.
He said: “As we prepare for the Anambra State governorship election on 8th November 2025, we have put in place robust security measures.
“These include enhanced surveillance, the deployment of sufficient security personnel, and improved intelligence gathering to prevent any attempt by disruptive elements or desperate politicians to undermine the electoral process.
“Moreover, we are proactively engaging with political party leaders and local stakeholders to send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated in our elections.
“All participating political parties and their candidates must advocate for peace and encourage their supporters to conduct themselves in a manner that honours the integrity of our electoral system. Any form of violence during the elections will be met with a strong, uncompromising response.
“The Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency for election security, along with other security agencies, stands prepared and resolute to maintain a secure environment during the Anambra State governorship elections. We call upon all citizens to collaborate and commit to a peaceful electoral process that reflects our shared values and aspirations”.
