Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria’s electoral and security authorities have vowed to curb vote buying and ensure the integrity of the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election, scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The commitment was made during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja, co-chaired by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of INEC, declared that security agencies “cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate during the Anambra election,” describing the practice as a “menace contaminating the soul of Nigeria’s democracy.”
“Together, let us combat vote buying, uphold the values of democracy, and work relentlessly for the credibility of our elections,” Professor Amupitan stated.
Security Deployment and Electoral Readiness
The Police are planning a massive security operation to secure the poll. Representing the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle announced that 45,000 police officers would be deployed to Anambra State. He stressed that only federal agencies represented in ICCES will be permitted to participate in election security operations.
Representing the National Security Adviser, Hassan Abdullahi, Director of Internal Security at the ONSA, assured that the Federal Government had approved robust, intelligence-driven security arrangements to secure the electoral environment. He added that the ONSA remains fully committed to the President’s directive on the strategic mobilization of security forces.
On its part, the INEC Chairman Professor Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness for the election, confirming the deployment of 24,000 personnel and the hiring of 200 buses and 83 boats for logistics. He also announced that the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise in Anambra State would be extended until November 2, 2025, to ensure that no eligible voter is left behind.
In a goodwill message, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General O.O. Nafi’u, assured the Commission of the Corps’ continued support and readiness to participate in the election. He appealed to the people of Anambra State to treat the corps members, who will serve as ad hoc staff, “as their own children and ensure their safety.”
The INEC Chairman concluded by calling for unity and vigilance, reminding stakeholders that the credibility of the Anambra Governorship Election will be a reflection of Nigeria’s democratic maturity.
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