Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern warning to political actors to ensure decorum and reject violence ahead of a series of upcoming bye-elections and significant state-level polls. Speaking in Abuja on Friday, Mr. Ribadu emphasized that any form of malpractice or thuggery would not be tolerated.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled bye-elections in 12 states for August 16, 2025. This will be followed by the Anambra State governorship election on November 8, 2025, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections on February 21, 2026.
Speaking at the second regular consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at INEC headquarters, Mr. Ribadu, represented by Hassan Abdullahi, Director of Internal Security in his office, underlined the committee’s primary goal: safeguarding the integrity of the upcoming electoral processes.
“We must ensure that eligible voters exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation,” Mr. Ribadu stated. He affirmed that security and law enforcement agencies would bolster their collaboration to swiftly address any potential threats.
The NSA’s office plans to intensify intelligence gathering to monitor and pre-empt threats, particularly in states with “recalcitrant subversive non-state actors who could be exploited by desperate politicians.” Additionally, Mr. Ribadu highlighted the importance of continued dialogue with political parties and candidates, a strategy that has proven effective in de-escalating tensions in the past.
Earlier, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu called on security agencies to make proactive arrangements for the protection of electoral personnel and assets. He also stressed the need for security ahead of the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process.
Professor Yakubu noted that specific security concerns raised during recent consultations with political parties, civil society organisations, and media executives would be presented to security agencies for immediate action.
Among the scheduled activities, the INEC Chairman detailed bye-elections to fill vacancies in 16 constituencies across two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies, and nine State Assembly constituencies. Also on August 16, court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu South I State Constituency (Enugu State) and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency (Kano State), which were previously disrupted by violence, will proceed following security assurances.
For the Anambra governorship election in November, the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume in the state from July 8 to 17, 2025, conducted simultaneously across all 326 wards. Professor Yakubu urged security agencies to use the CVR period to refine their preparations for securing the forthcoming election, despite a calmer security situation compared to the previous gubernatorial election four years ago.
Nationwide CVR is also set to resume, with online pre-registration beginning on August 18, 2025, followed by in-person registration from August 25, 2025, at State and Local Government offices across the country. Full details are expected to be released soon and shared with security agencies.
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