By: Mercy Peter
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan, has urged political parties, candidates, and citizens of Anambra State to uphold peace and respect the democratic process ahead of the November 8, 2025 off-cycle governorship election.
Speaking at the signing of the Peace Accord organized by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in Awka on Monday, Professor Amupitan commended the Committee—led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) for its steadfast commitment to promoting peaceful elections and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
He pointed out that “It is not the signatures on this document that guarantee peace, but the genuine commitment to honouring its provisions. “Without peace, logistics will be disrupted, personnel endangered, and the credibility of the process undermined,” he added.
The INEC Chairman assured stakeholders that the Commission remains fully prepared and committed to conducting a free, fair, transparent, and credible election in Anambra State.
He emphasized that INEC would continue to operate strictly within the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended), and international best practices.
“We want to reassure all political parties and candidates that INEC is fully committed to discharging its duties in line with the law and the very principles enshrined in the Peace Accord we are endorsing today,” he stated.
According to Amupitan, INEC has made “deliberate and comprehensive arrangements” to ensure smooth logistics and efficient deployment across Anambra State.
He added that enhanced result management systems will be in place to improve transparency and accuracy in collation and transmission of results.
“Our mandate is to deliver credible elections, and we reaffirm our resolve to combat vote-buying. Anyone planning to subvert the will of the people will be confronted with the full weight of the law,” Amupitan warned.
Amupitan expressed confidence that the combination of proactive security measures, community engagement, and the signing of the Peace Accord would guarantee a safe and successful election.
“With the peace accord being signed today, the proactive efforts of security agencies, and the contributions of traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, civil society, and the media, we are confident that the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election will be peaceful and successful,” he said.
He noted that the Peace Accord not only binds parties and candidates to peaceful conduct but also signals to citizens that democracy can thrive only when peace prevails.
“Each one of us has a part to play. Let this election be remembered not for division or discord, but for unity and respect for democratic values. Let Anambra State be a beacon of hope, resilience, and peace,” he urged.
The INEC Chairman thanked the National Peace Committee, political leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, and the media for their continued partnership in strengthening democracy in Nigeria.
The Commission, he also said plans to deploy 24,000 personnel to manage 5,718 polling units, 326 ward collation centres, 21 local government collation centres, and a state collation centre in Awka.
INEC has also approved a final register of 2,802,790 eligible voters for the election, and extended the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise until Sunday, November 2, 2025, to encourage maximum voter participation.
To ensure a peaceful and secure environment for the election, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has put in place extensive security arrangements.
The Nigeria Police Force said it will deploy 45,000 personnel, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) will contribute 10,250 officers, in addition to support from other security and intelligence agencies.
