The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, on Tuesday assured that Anambra State is fully secured for the governorship election scheduled for November 8.
Among the measures being put in place included 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.
Ribadu represented by a Director in the Directorate of Internal Security, in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi, gave the assurance in Abuja during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee On Election Security (ICCES) on the Anambra Governorship Election, convened by the Independent National Electoral Commisson (INEC).
At the event, the chairman of INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), warned that any attempt to induce voters before or during the Anambra election must be resisted and curtailed.
According to him, all hands must be on deck to combat the menace of vote buying, insisting that security agents cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate during the Anambra election.
Ribadu said, “As we prepare for the Anambra State governorship election on November 8 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.
“In conclusion, 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.”
He said ONSA remains fully committed to fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on the strategic mobilization of security forces during the electoral period, saying the commitment is essential to ensuring the highest level of safety and security.
Amupitan said the ICCES meeting which he co-chairs with the NSA as INEC chairman represents a new chapter, being his first major assignment since he took office last week.
“I wish to reiterate my personal commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections that genuinely reflect the will of the Nigerian people”, he said.
Amupitan said, “The Anambra State Governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, November 8 2025, just 11 days away. Following a week-long, comprehensive readiness assessment conducted across the state, the commission is confident in affirming its full preparedness for the polls. We recently conducted a Mock Accreditation Exercise in 12 selected polling units in six 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 8th November, 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% of the voters collected their PVC, the Commission met and decided to extend the ongoing collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Anambra State
“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.
“The security agencies have played a crucial role in securing the environment, without which the conduct of elections would be impossible in certain locations. To ensure every logistical, security, and operational detail for the successful election in Anambra is covered, a high-level ICCES meeting was held in the state itself.
“During this meeting, security chiefs provided updates on operations and flashpoint monitoring. Representatives of the Police, DSS, NSCDC, and the military collectively assured the readiness team of heavy deployments and coordinated patrols before, during, and after the election. Our mission remains ensuring that every logistical, security, and operational element required for the Anambra election is perfectly in place.
“To achieve this, synergy among all security agencies is non-negotiable, particularly at a time when the credibility of our elections is paramount. We have also concluded arrangements with the transport Unions- (National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Maritime Union Workers of Nigeria (MUWN) and have hired 200 Buses and 83 Boats to ensure seamless transportation of poll officers and sensitive materials.
“The Anambra election must aim for even better coordination, and I charge everyone present to work tirelessly towards this goal.
“We would like to warn that any attempt to induce voters before or during the Anambra election must be resisted and curtailed. 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.”
Friday Olokor
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