The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Joash Amupitan has announced an extension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the 326 Registration Areas (Wards) in Anambra State.
The exercise, according to Prof Amupitan which commenced on Wednesday, October 29, will continue until Sunday, November 2, 2025, to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
Speaking at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, reaffirmed his personal commitment to delivering elections that genuinely reflect the will of the people.
He said over 24,000 personnel across 5,718 polling units of Anambra State would deploy, noting that voting will not take place in two polling units due to the absence of registered voters.
According to him, the extension followed a report by a team of four National Commissioners which indicated that only 63.9% of registered voters had collected their PVCs.
On security arrangements, Prof. Amupitan commended the efforts of security agencies, noting that a high-level ICCES meeting had already been held in Anambra to review security preparations. He disclosed that the Police, DSS, NSCDC, and the military had all assured of “heavy deployments and coordinated patrols before, during, and after the election.”
He emphasized the need for synergy among all security agencies to safeguard the process, stating that “every logistical, security, and operational element required for the Anambra election must be perfectly in place.”
He expressed full readiness for the November 8, 2025, Anambra Governorship Election, assuring Nigerians of a credible, transparent, and hitch-free process.
“It is an honour to co-chair this assembly today, my maiden edition, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. For INEC, this represents a new chapter, and I wish to reiterate my personal commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections,” Prof. Amupitan stated.
In addition, INEC has concluded arrangements with transport unions, including the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Maritime Union Workers of Nigeria (MUWN) for the deployment of 200 buses and 83 boats to aid the transportation of election personnel and sensitive materials.
The INEC Chairman also warned against vote buying, describing it as a major threat to credible elections. “Any attempt to induce voters before or during the Anambra election must be resisted and curtailed. Security agents cannot afford to create an environment that allows vote buyers to operate,” he said.
Prof. Amupitan further urged all stakeholders to emulate the successful coordination achieved during the Ondo Governorship Election of November 2024, which was widely commended for its smooth logistics and peaceful conduct.
“The Anambra election must aim for even better coordination, and I charge everyone present to work tirelessly towards this goal,” he added.
In his remarks, the National Security Adviser (ONSA) represented by the Director of Internal Security at ONSA, Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi reiterated its commitment to ensuring a peaceful and secure atmosphere during the November 8, 2025, Anambra State Governorship Election.
Ribadu said robust security arrangements have been put in place ahead of the polls. Ribadu, who co-chairs ICCES, was unavoidably absent due to pressing national security engagements.
According to Abdullahi, the ONSA remains dedicated to implementing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on the strategic mobilization of security forces during elections to safeguard the process and ensure credibility.
He noted that the security architecture for the Anambra election includes enhanced surveillance, adequate personnel deployment, and improved intelligence gathering to deter any attempt by criminal or political elements to disrupt the exercise.
He added that the Federal Government is also engaging political party leaders and other stakeholders to foster peace and discourage violence. “All political parties and their candidates must advocate peace and encourage their supporters to respect the sanctity of the ballot. Any act of violence will be met with a firm and decisive response,” Abdullahi warned.
The NSA’s representative assured that the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency for election security, alongside other security outfits, is fully prepared to maintain law and order before, during, and after the election. He appealed to the people of Anambra to cooperate with security agencies and commit to a peaceful process that reflects the nation’s democratic values and collective aspirations.
The meeting, co-chaired by the National Security Adviser, brought together heads and representatives of all security, intelligence, law enforcement, and safety agencies, alongside INEC National Commissioners and senior officials.