Professor Joash O. Amupitan (SAN), Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured that the forthcoming Anambra State off-cycle governorship election will be conducted peacefully and with integrity. He highlighted the comprehensive preparations undertaken and emphasised the joint commitment to ensuring a non-violent electoral process.

He also called on all political parties and their candidates in the Saturday Anambra Governorship Election to honour the spirit and letter of the Peace Accord they signed.

He spoke at the ongoing signing of the Peace Accord, convened by the National Peace Committee (NPC) led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Professor Amupitan commended the NPC for its steadfast dedication to promoting peaceful elections in Nigeria, highlighting that the implementation of the Peace Accord during off-cycle governorship elections has played a significant role in mitigating electoral tensions and violence.

“After witnessing the success of the Peace Accord at the national level, the NPC graciously agreed, five years ago, to our request to devolve its signing… This became necessary given the tensions and violence that have accompanied some past elections,” the INEC Chairman stated.

The Chairman National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, said that democracy can thrive where human lives are held sacred. Represented by General Martin Luther Agwai, General Abdulsalami Abubakar told the Candidates that signing the Peace Accord represents their commitment, discipline and a call for responsibility on their part to ensure the success of the polls.

The Convener of the National Peace Committee and the Bishop of Sokoto Archdiocese, Most Reverend Hassan Mathew Kukah, appealed to the Political Parties and their supporters to abide by the agreement they entered into for a credible and violence-free election to be realised this Saturday.

Prof Amupitan, however, emphasised that the signatures on the document are symbolic and must be backed by genuine action. “It is not the signatures on this document that guarantee peace; it is the genuine commitment to honouring its provisions,” he cautioned, urging the 16 participating political parties and their candidates to ensure the message of peace cascades to their supporters at all levels.

To bolster confidence in the process, Professor Amupitan outlined the Commission’s comprehensive preparations for the election scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025.

He revealed that INEC has fine-tuned deployment plans for 24,000 personnel and election materials across the state’s 5,718 Polling Units and hundreds of collation centres. “Voters should therefore expect a significant improvement in Election Day logistics,” he affirmed.

The Commission has approved a final register of 2,802,790 eligible voters and extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) until Sunday, November 2, to ensure maximum participation. The Chairman also reaffirmed INEC’s resolve to firmly combat vote-buying, warning that “any individuals or groups planning to subvert the will of the people will be firmly confronted within the strong hands of the law.”

On the critical issue of security, the INEC Chairman disclosed that the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has instituted robust measures. He confirmed that the Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 personnel and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will deploy 10,250 officers to secure the electoral process.

With the Peace Accord in place, the proactive efforts of security agencies, and the support of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders, Professor Amupitan expressed strong confidence that the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election will be both peaceful and successful.

Finally, he declared: “Let us work together to ensure that the upcoming election is remembered not for division or discord, but for its spirit of unity and the pursuit of common goals. Let us demonstrate to the world that Anambra State is a beacon of hope, resilience, and democratic values.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, said that they have developed an integrated operation plan to secure the election process from the beginning till the results are announced.

Represented by the DIG in charge of Intelligence, Benjamin Okolo explained that they would work with other sister agencies to deploy sufficient officers as the Peace of Anambra State was non-negotiable.

The Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Comrade Uchenna Ugwuorji, urged political parties and candidates to be lawful before, during and after the election.

He also urged security agencies to be professional and not allow themselves to be used to intimidate other candidates and their supporters.

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