By Nkechi Eze
As preparations heighten for the November 8 Anambra governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and key security stakeholders have reaffirmed their collective commitment to ensuring a peaceful, credible, and transparent poll, declaring that vote buying and voter inducement will be met with decisive sanctions.
This strong stance was made known on Tuesday during a high-level meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at INEC headquarters in Abuja, chaired by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, who presided over the session for the first time since assuming office.
Addressing representatives of law enforcement agencies, national commissioners, and other partners, Amupitan described vote buying as the single greatest threat to Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that the integrity of the electoral process would not be compromised under any circumstance.
“We must join hands to combat the menace of vote buying,” he declared. “Any attempt to induce voters before or during the Anambra election must be resisted and curtailed. Together, let us uphold the values of democracy and protect the sanctity of the ballot.”
He revealed that INEC would deploy about 24,000 officials across 5,718 polling units in Anambra, with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) already tested successfully in multiple local governments. Network-related issues, he noted, had been fully addressed ahead of the exercise.
To promote voter inclusion, the Commission extended Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection in the state until November 2, allowing more eligible citizens to obtain their cards. He further disclosed that logistics had been concluded with transport unions, involving 200 buses and 83 boats to ensure smooth movement of personnel and sensitive materials, especially in riverine communities.
Representing the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi, reaffirmed the federal government’s readiness to safeguard the polls. He said extensive intelligence and surveillance operations were already in motion to prevent disruptions and illegal inducements.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser is fully committed to ensuring a peaceful and credible election,” Abdullahi stated. “We are engaging political party leaders and community stakeholders to make it clear that violence and vote trading will not be tolerated. Anyone caught trying to manipulate the process will face immediate and decisive consequences.”
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, CP Abayomi Shogunle announced that the Nigeria Police Force would deploy 45,000 officers across Anambra, supported by tactical units conducting pre-election operations to neutralize threats.
“There will be restrictions of movement on election day,” Shogunle said. “All entry and exit routes will be fully manned to prevent infiltration by political thugs or illegal movement of election materials. Only accredited security officials, INEC personnel, and observers will be allowed near polling units. Vigilante groups and unauthorized individuals will not be permitted.”
Amupitan commended the strong collaboration among security agencies, drawing parallels with the 2024 Ondo State governorship election, which he described as a model of effective coordination that ensured credibility and order.
“The Ondo election demonstrated what is possible when institutions work together,” he noted. “For Anambra, we must go even further. The credibility of our democracy depends on how faithfully we protect the process.”
He expressed confidence that the synergy between INEC, the security community, and the Nigerian people would deliver another milestone in the country’s democratic journey.
“Our commitment is not just to conduct an election,” Amupitan concluded, “but to protect the will of the people. When we secure the vote, we secure democracy itself.”
The meeting ended with firm assurances from all participating agencies that the Anambra governorship election will be peaceful, transparent, and credible, underscoring a shared national resolve to uphold integrity and public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
