By Euclid Myke, Abuja
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has urged political actors, security agencies, and voters to collectively resist any form of vote buying and inducement during the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election.
Amupitan gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja at the first consultative meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). He warned that the practice of vote buying poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy and must be curtailed if the country is to achieve credible elections.
“Any attempt to induce voters before or during the Anambra governorship election must be resisted and curtailed. Security agents cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate. Together, let us combat vote buying, uphold the values of democracy, and work relentlessly for the credibility of our elections,” the INEC Chairman said.
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He added that the Commission is working closely with law enforcement and anti-graft agencies to prevent and prosecute electoral offenders, stressing that vote buying distorts the will of the people and undermines democratic principles.
Amupitan noted that INEC had concluded a week-long, comprehensive readiness assessment across Anambra State, expressing confidence that the Commission was fully prepared for the polls.
“With just 11 days to the Anambra governorship election, the Commission is confident in affirming its full preparedness,” he said. “We have tested our systems, trained our personnel, and fine-tuned our logistics to ensure smooth conduct of the election.”
The INEC Chairman disclosed that a mock accreditation exercise had been successfully conducted in 12 selected polling units across six Local Government Areas of the 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. We are ready for large-scale deployment on Election Day,” he added.
The INEC Chairman announced that the commisson would deploy about 24,000 ad-hoc and permanent staff for the exercise. Voting, he said, would take place in 5,718 of the 5,720 polling units in the state, with elections excluded from the remaining two units due to the absence of registered voters. Results, he explained, would be collated at 326 ward centres, 21 Local Government Area centres, and finally at the State Collation Centre in Awka.
Also speaking at the meeting, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring peaceful and secure elections in Anambra.
Represented by the Director of Internal Security at the Office of the NSA, Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi, Ribadu said the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was implementing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on the strategic mobilisation of security forces for the electoral period.
“As we prepare for the Anambra State governorship election on November 8, we have put in place robust security measures,” Ribadu stated. “These include enhanced surveillance, deployment of sufficient security personnel, and improved intelligence gathering to prevent any attempt by disruptive elements or desperate politicians to undermine the electoral process.”
The NSA said his office was also engaging with political leaders and stakeholders to send a clear message that electoral violence will not be tolerated. He warned that any act of violence during the polls would be met with an uncompromising response from security agencies.
“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 throughout the Anambra State governorship election,” he said.
Both INEC, the Nigerian Police, Office of the NSA, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other security agencies reassured Nigerians that adequate logistics and security arrangements had been finalized to ensure that the Anambra election is peaceful, transparent, and credible.
With the Commission’s readiness and the security agencies’ commitment, all eyes are now on Anambra as the state prepares for another crucial test of Nigeria’s democratic resilience on November 8.
