THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, has reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness to conduct a transparent, credible and peaceful governorship election in Anambra State.
Amupitan disclosed this ahead of the election scheduled on Saturday, November 8, 2025, while warning political parties, candidates, and voters against vote-buying and other forms of electoral malpractice.
Speaking at the Anambra State Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Awka, Prof Amupitan said the meeting was part of INEC’s long-standing commitment to inclusivity and transparency ahead of every major off-cycle election.
He explained that it was customary for such engagements to be jointly addressed by the INEC Chairman and the Inspector-General of Police to update the public on election preparedness and security arrangements.
The INEC Chairman said preparations for the Anambra election commenced in 2024 with the publication of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
Out of the 13 statutory activities outlined by the Commission, 11 have been successfully implemented, leaving only the close of campaigns scheduled for midnight on Thursday, November 6, and the election proper on Saturday, November 8.
He disclosed that the Commission had published the final list of candidates and running mates for the poll. 16 political parties will participate, while five parties made lawful substitutions of candidates and deputies in line with Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022.
Amupitan revealed that INEC had approved a final register of 2,802,790 voters for the election following the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and subsequent clean-up of the database.
He noted that a total of 168,187 new registrations were recorded across the 326 wards of the state, but 27,817 invalid multiple entries were removed after Automated Biometric Identification System screening, leaving 140,370 valid new voters. In addition, 5,983 voters transferred their registration within the state.
…Don’t Dare Security Operatives, IG Warns Thugs
THE Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a stern warning to political thugs ahead of the November 8 Anambra governorship election not to undermine security or compromise the credibility of the exercise.
Egbetokun gave the warning yesterday in Abuja at the Cleen Foundation 2025 Anambra Governorship Election Security Threat Assessment (STA) Dissemination.
The I-G, represented by the Acting Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia from the Operations Department, vowed that security agencies would not tolerate any act capable of undermining the credibility of the poll.
Egbetokun also cautioned political parties, their candidates and supporters to strictly adhere to electoral rules, particularly the provisions of the peace accord they signed, warning that any breach would attract decisive sanctions.
“We have made all the necessary arrangements to provide security at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices, for officials, international and local observers, as well as all the law-abiding citizens.
“We assure you that with the security arrangements which have been placed, we are very optimistic that the election will be conducted without any incident.
“We urge party leaders to remember there is a peace accord that was signed by all the political parties to actually abide by what they have signed.
“Anybody who breaches or tries to cause any problem, the law will actually be applied to the person or persons,” he said.
Egbetokun warned that anyone caught attempting to disrupt the electoral process would be promptly arrested, thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Audi, represented by the ACG of Operations, David Ojelabi, also cautioned the electorate against any form of disorderly conduct during the election.
