By Gabriel Ameh
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced an extension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the 326 Registration Areas (Wards) in Anambra State ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, made the announcement during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja. He also unveiled a series of coordinated security and logistics measures designed to ensure a peaceful, credible, and transparent election.
Under the new arrangement, INEC will deploy 24,000 ad-hoc and permanent officials, 200 buses, and 83 boats across the state. The initiative will be complemented by a massive security operation jointly coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Nigeria Police Force.
Prof. Amupitan described the Anambra governorship poll as “a defining test for Nigeria’s democracy,” pledging that the Commission would deliver a free, fair, and credible process.
“This marks a new chapter for INEC. We are prepared, determined, and resolute to deliver an election that reflects the will of the Nigerian people,” he said.
The INEC Chairman explained that the Commission had finalized logistics agreements with key transport unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), to guarantee efficient deployment of materials and personnel.
He noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) had undergone successful testing, with earlier technical issues now fully resolved through network reinforcements.
Commending the synergy among security agencies, Amupitan stressed that collaboration was “non-negotiable,” assuring voters that comprehensive patrols and surveillance would be sustained before, during, and after the polls.
He also announced the extension of PVC collection until Sunday, November 2, 2025, to ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in the election.
“Let it be clear: anyone who attempts to induce voters before or during the Anambra election will face the full weight of the law. We will not allow vote buyers to contaminate the will of the people,” he warned.
Prof. Amupitan cited the 2024 Ondo governorship election as a benchmark for coordination between INEC and security agencies, expressing confidence that the Anambra election would improve on that success with tighter logistics and stronger execution.
“Every vote must count, every voter must be safe, and every officer must perform their duty with integrity,” he added.
Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Hassan Abdullahi, fsi, said the federal government had activated a comprehensive security and intelligence framework to protect voters, officials, and materials across Anambra State.
“Our mission is clear to ensure that elections are held in an atmosphere of peace and safety. Any disruptive elements or desperate politicians will be decisively dealt with,” Ribadu warned.
He added that the NSA’s office was engaging political parties, traditional institutions, and community leaders to amplify peace messages across the state.
Similarly, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the deployment of 45,000 police personnel for the election, with tactical units scheduled for pre-election deployment from November 1.
He emphasized that only federal security agencies represented in ICCES would be involved in election duties, warning that vigilante groups and state security outfits would not be allowed to participate.
“Every road, every route in and out of Anambra will be manned. We are not leaving anything to chance,” the IGP said.
The coordinated efforts by INEC, the NSA, and the Nigeria Police mark one of the largest pre-election security operations in Nigeria’s democratic history, underscoring the federal government’s determination to deliver a credible, peaceful, and violence-free election in Anambra State.
