The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that a total of 2,802,790 eligible voters are registered to participate in the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State. The commission also reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on vote-buying and electoral malpractice.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the signing of a Peace Accord organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in Awka on Monday. He said the commission had finalised logistics and deployment arrangements for 24,000 officials and sensitive materials across the state’s 5,718 polling units, 326 ward collation centres, and 21 local government areas.
Amupitan warned political actors and voters against any form of electoral inducement, stressing that those caught attempting to undermine the will of the people would face the full weight of the law. “The Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has instituted robust security measures for this election,” he said. “The Nigeria Police will deploy 45,000 personnel, while the Civil Defence Corps will field 10,250 officers, supported by other security agencies.”
According to the INEC chairman, the upcoming poll will see improved logistics and result management systems compared to previous elections. He assured voters of better transparency and accountability throughout the process, adding that the commission was working closely with security agencies to safeguard polling areas and electoral materials.
While reiterating INEC’s commitment to conducting a credible election, Amupitan urged all political parties and candidates to honour the peace pact signed before the NPC. He emphasised that the success of the election depends not just on the signing of documents but on the genuine commitment of political stakeholders to peace.
He noted that violence and disruption could jeopardize logistics, endanger personnel, and undermine the credibility of the process. “Without peace, there can be no credible election,” he stated. “We urge all candidates to take the message of peace to their supporters at every level.”
As Anambra prepares for the high-stakes off-cycle election, political analysts say the outcome will test both INEC’s operational readiness and the political class’s willingness to respect democratic norms. With over 2.8 million voters and one of the largest security deployments in recent state polls, all eyes are on how effectively Nigeria’s electoral body will manage both logistics and law enforcement.
