Janet Samuel
With just 11 days to the Anambra State Governorship Election, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has declared that the Commission is fully ready to deliver one of Nigeria’s most transparent and secure elections in recent history.
Speaking on Tuesday at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at INEC Headquarters, Abuja, Prof. Amupitan assured Nigerians that all logistical and security frameworks have been perfected for the November 8 poll.
“The Commission is confident in its full preparedness for the Anambra election,” Amupitan said firmly. “Every logistical, security, and operational detail has been scrutinised to ensure a seamless, credible, and peaceful process.”
Amupitan, who presided over the session for the first time since assuming office, underscored INEC’s resolve to protect the integrity of the ballot.
He revealed that over 24,000 personnel will be deployed across 5,718 polling units in Anambra, with results collated at 326 wards, 21 local governments, and finally at the state collation centre in Awka.
In a decisive move to enhance voter inclusion, the INEC Chairman announced an extension of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection in the state. The new deadline now runs from Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2, 2025.
“Our mandate is to ensure that every eligible voter is empowered to exercise their right. No Nigerian should be disenfranchised,” he declared.
Amupitan praised security agencies for maintaining a stable pre-election environment, noting that without their cooperation, elections in sensitive areas would be nearly impossible. He disclosed that INEC has concluded logistics agreements with transport unions, including NATO, NURTW, and MWUN, engaging 200 buses and 83 boats to guarantee the smooth delivery of personnel and materials, even in riverine communities.
However, the INEC Chairman issued a stern warning against vote buying and electoral corruption, calling it a “virus that poisons democracy.”
“Security agencies must ensure that vote buyers and their enablers find no space to operate. Together, we must defend the sanctity of the ballot and protect the will of the people,” he said.
Drawing lessons from the successful Ondo Governorship Election of 2024, Prof. Amupitan urged all stakeholders to surpass that achievement in Anambra.
“We must raise the bar of excellence. The world is watching, and the credibility of our democracy depends on how we conduct this election,” he charged.
The meeting, co-chaired with the National Security Adviser (NSA), brought together the Inspector-General of Police, heads of the DSS, NSCDC, military, and other security agencies, who pledged robust coordination to guarantee safety before, during, and after the polls.
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