The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan (SAN), has assured the people of Anambra State that the November 8, 2025, off-cycle governorship election will be peaceful, credible, and transparent.
Professor Amupitan gave the assurance on Monday during the signing of the Peace Accord organized by the National Peace Committee (NPC), led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Awka, Anambra State.
In his goodwill message, the INEC Chairman commended the NPC for its sustained efforts in promoting peaceful elections across Nigeria. He noted that devolving the Peace Accord process to off-cycle governorship elections has helped reduce electoral tension and violence in recent years.
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“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,” Amupitan said.
He, however, emphasized that the signing of the Peace Accord should translate into genuine commitment by candidates and their supporters. “It is not the signatures on this document that guarantee peace; it is the genuine commitment to honouring its provisions,” he cautioned.
Revealing INEC’s level of preparedness, Amupitan said the Commission has finalized deployment plans for 24,000 personnel and election materials across Anambra’s 5,718 polling units and collation centres. He added that a final register of 2,802,790 eligible voters has been approved, while the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has been extended until November 2 to ensure broader participation.
The INEC Chairman also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to tackling vote-buying and other electoral offences. “Any individuals or groups planning to subvert the will of the people will be firmly confronted within the strong hands of the law,” he warned.
On security arrangements, Amupitan disclosed that the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has rolled out comprehensive measures to secure the electoral process. According to him, the Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 personnel, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) will deploy 10,250 officers.
He expressed optimism that with the Peace Accord in place, the proactive efforts of security agencies, and the cooperation of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other stakeholders, the election would be peaceful and credible.
“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,” he concluded.
