Anambra Poll: 55,000 Security Personnel Deployed, INEC Distributes Sensitive Materials

Ahead of tomorrow’s gubernatorial election in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distributed sensitive materials, with approximately 55,000 security personnel deployed to the state.

INEC, yesterday, moved the sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to its 21 local government area headquarters across the state ahead of tomorrow’s election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, stated that on Friday (today), the electoral materials would be transported to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) across the state for further distribution to the Polling Units, enabling the conduct of the election.

Meanwhile, the Police Commissioner in charge of the election, CP Abayomi Shogunle,, told newsmen during the distribution of election materials at the CBN headquarters that the number of security personnel deployed to provide security during the election had been scaled up to 55,000 from the earlier 45,000.

He stated that out of the 10,000 personnel, those from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were included.

He also said that the security strength comprised members of the army, NDLEA, Immigration, Federal Road Safety Corps and other sister security agencies.

CP Shogunle stated that the plan was to deploy at least three security personnel in each of the 5,817 polling units where the governorship election would be held.

Additionally, to ensure that the electoral materials were difficult to counterfeit, the Resident Electoral Commissioner began signing all the Form EC8As and EC8Cs before they were transferred from the CBN headquarters.

She urged eligible voters to turn out in large numbers to cast their votes on Election Day, assuring them of the commission’s commitment to ensure that their votes determined the election’s outcome.

“As a commission, we are going to ensure that every eligible voter casts his or her vote in a peaceful atmosphere and that the election is conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner, and the votes are counted and the winner emerges from the ballots.

But, if after we have put in all these efforts and voters did not come out to vote, all the efforts would have been made in vain”, REC Agwu emphasised.

Meanwhile, political party leaders, including the state chairman of the Young Progressives Party ( YPP), Prince Moses Obi; chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Chris Chikwelu (junior) and former state House of Assembly member, Hon. Sylvester Okeke, commended the distribution of the electoral materials, saying that it was done in an orderly and transparent manner.

Obi particularly commended the signing of the Form EC8As by the REC before they were moved out from the CBN, saying that it would reduce the chances of ballot paper tampering.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) is set to conduct the 2025 Anambra governorship election on Saturday.

The Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, who indicated at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, expressed the commission’s determination to deliver an election that is credible, inclusive, transparent, and efficiently executed.

Amupitan said with a register of 2,802,790 eligible voters, Anambra has the numbers to shape its own destiny powerfully and urged every person in the state to come out and exercise their civic right without fear or favour.

“Following the conclusion of voter registration and a thorough database clean-up, the Commission finalised a register of 2,802,790 voters for this election on September 4th, 2025. Initially, only 63.9% of voters had collected their PVCs.

“To close this gap, INEC extended the PVC collection period from Wednesday, 29th October to Sunday, 2nd November 2025, ensuring collection centres were open across all 326 Registration Areas (Wards).

“I am delighted to share a success story today: that extension has yielded excellent results! The percentage of collected PVCs to registered voters now stands at an impressive 98.80%. This is a significant collection rate for any election in Nigeria, and it sends a clear signal,” he said.

Amupitan said INEC has also partnered with TAFAfrica to approve the deployment of Sign Language Interpreters across polling units in Anambra state.

This, he said, will enable the 3,456 registered voters living with disabilities (PWDs) in Anambra state to fully exercise their civic rights.

Amupitan insisted that all 5,718 polling units must open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m., saying INEC is deploying the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for accurate accreditation and result upload to IReV.

“More than 24,000 trained ad hoc personnel are on standby, with 6,879 BVAS devices thoroughly tested, configured, and backed up. Over 3,000 vehicles and 83 boats, supported by security escorts, will guarantee timely movement, particularly to our riverine communities.

“Our Situation Room in Abuja will be monitoring field operations live to ensure rapid response to any challenge. The era of delayed polling unit openings must remain firmly behind us.

“On security, the Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 officers, supported by the NSCDC and other agencies under ICCES. I assure you: Neutrality is guaranteed. Impunity will not be tolerated.

“To demonstrate our unwavering commitment to flawless delivery, four National Commissioners have remained in Anambra to personally supervise the election, supported by ten Resident Electoral Commissioners specially deployed from across the country,” Amupitan said.

He assured registered voters in the six Registration Areas facing security challenges in Ihiala Local Government that they would vote safely and securely at the local government secretariat, protected by security agencies.

The INEC boss warned that “anyone attempting violence, vote-buying, intimidation, or ballot interference will face swift, lawful consequences.

“And to the voters — you have collected your PVCs, Security will protect you, and INEC is ready for you. So, come out on Saturday, 8th November, vote freely, vote peacefully, vote proudly.

“By God’s grace and the courage of the people, the 2025 Anambra governorship election will be peaceful, credible, and a true victory for democracy.”