Anambra Poll: INEC, NSA, Police unveil tough measures against violence, vote buying

The Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, and the Nigeria Police Force, has unveiled sweeping measures to guarantee a peaceful, credible, and transparent governorship election in Anambra State on November 8, 2025.

Under the new arrangement, INEC will deploy 24,000 officials, 200 buses, and 83 boats across the state, while the NSA and security agencies have activated a massive security network to clamp down on vote buying, political thuggery, and violence before, during, and after the polls.

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The Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja, describing the upcoming election as a defining test for Nigeria’s democracy.

Amupitan, who was presiding over his first major pre-election briefing since assuming office, said INEC had put in place “one of the most comprehensive deployment strategies in its history” to ensure a smooth and credible exercise.

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“This marks a new chapter for INEC. We are prepared, determined, and resolute to deliver a free, fair, and credible election that reflects the will of the Nigerian people,” he said.

According to him, the 24,000 ad-hoc and permanent staff will cover 5,718 polling units across the state, while two units will remain inactive due to the absence of registered voters.

He explained that the Commission had finalized logistics agreements with major transport unions including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to guarantee safe and efficient movement of personnel and election materials.

Amupitan added that the test run of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) recorded only minor issues, which have been resolved through technical reinforcements and additional network support.

Commending the efforts of security agencies, he described the level of synergy among them as “unprecedented,” noting that coordinated patrols and surveillance will be intensified before, during, and after the election.

“Synergy among all security agencies is non-negotiable. The credibility of our elections depends on it,” he stated.

To ensure that no eligible voter is left out, the INEC Chairman also announced an extension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across all 326 wards in Anambra until Sunday, November 2.

Amupitan issued a stern warning to political actors, stressing that vote buying would be met with strict enforcement of the law.

“Let it be clear: anyone who attempts to induce voters before or during the Anambra election will face the full weight of the law. We will not allow vote buyers to contaminate the will of the people,” he warned.

He said the Ondo governorship election of November 2024 had set a benchmark for coordination between INEC and security agencies, adding that the Anambra poll would build on that success with tighter logistics and stronger execution.

“The Anambra election must aim higher. Every vote must count, every voter must be safe, and every officer must perform their duty with integrity,” he added.

Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has warned that any attempt to disrupt the election would be met with “uncompromising force.”

Represented by Hassan Abdullahi, fsi, at the ICCES meeting, Ribadu said the federal government has activated an extensive security and intelligence framework to protect voters, officials, and materials across the state.

“Our mission is clear — to ensure that elections are held in an atmosphere of peace and safety. Any disruptive elements or desperate politicians will be decisively dealt with,” he said.

Ribadu also revealed that the NSA’s office is engaging political parties and community leaders to ensure that peace messages are echoed across the state ahead of the polls.

“Political parties must lead by example, encouraging their members and supporters to uphold peace, respect the law, and honour the integrity of our electoral system,” he urged.

In a similar vein, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the deployment of 45,000 police officers for election duties, warning that vigilante groups and state security outfits would be completely barred from election operations.

“Only federal security agencies represented in ICCES will have operational roles. Vigilante groups and state security bodies will have no place in this election,” he declared.

Egbetokun said tactical units would begin pre-election deployments on November 1, with all entry and exit points into Anambra placed under strict surveillance. A restriction of movement will also be imposed on election day to prevent infiltration and ensure public order.

“Every road, every route in and out of Anambra will be manned. We are not leaving anything to chance,” he said.

The coordinated effort by INEC, the NSA’s office, and the Nigeria Police Force represents one of the largest pre-election operations in Nigeria’s democratic history, signaling the federal government’s resolve to deliver a credible, peaceful, and violence-free Anambra governorship election.

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