... DIG Benjamin Okolo Assumes Duty as Supervisory Officer Ahead of Anambra Governorship Election
2,769,137 out of 2,802,790 registered voters in Anambra State have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing an impressive 98.8% collection rate ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 personnel, supported by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, represented DIG Ben Okolo also commended the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, minps, for his proactive security engagements and continuous advocacy for peaceful participation across the state.
The IGP noted that CP Orutugu’s strategic initiatives and community-focused policing approach have significantly enhanced public confidence and strengthened collaboration between the Police and residents of Anambra State.
He further praised the Commissioner’s commitment to preventive security measures and timely coordination with other security agencies, especially in ensuring a safe environment ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
The Police chief urged other State Commands to emulate the Anambra model, emphasizing that proactive policing and community partnership remain vital to maintaining peace and public order nationwide.
The Nigeria Police Force has announced that the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Benjamin Okolo, fdc, has officially assumed duty as the Supervisory Officer overseeing all police personnel deployed for the November 8, 2025, Anambra State Governorship Election.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, DIG Okolo assumed the role on Thursday, November 6, 2025, as part of strategic security measures approved by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure a peaceful, credible, and professionally managed electoral process across the state.
DIG Okolo, who represented the IGP earlier in the week during the signing of the Peace Accord and other stakeholders’ engagements, will be responsible for supervising operational frameworks, coordinating field deployments, and ensuring strict compliance with the Force’s Rules of Engagement during the election.
He will be assisted in the coordination of election security operations by AIG Akoh Benedict Gabriel, the Commissioner of Police for the Anambra Governorship Election, CP Abayomi Shogunle, PhD, fsi, other Commissioners of Police deployed across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, and other senior officers.
The statement further reaffirmed the Police Force’s commitment to safeguarding the electoral process, protecting citizens’ rights, and maintaining law and order throughout the election period. It also urged members of the public and political actors to remain peaceful, comply with lawful directives, and cooperate fully with security personnel on election duties.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN on his part said the massive turnout for PVC collection is a significant achievement for any election in Nigeria, after the decision of INEC to extend the exercise across all 326 Registration Areas enabled nearly every eligible voter to obtain their card.
INEC Chairman said “All uncollected cards will now be safely retrieved and stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria until after the election,” he stated.
According to the final figures released by the Commission, Oyi Local Government Area recorded the highest PVC collection rate with 99.82%, followed closely by Onitsha South (99.74%), Orumba North (99.51%), and Nnewi North (99.40%). Aguata LGA recorded the lowest rate with 96.60%.
The INEC Chairman commended the people of Anambra for their enthusiasm and civic commitment, describing it as “a clear signal that the electorate is ready to shape its destiny through the ballot box.” He also lauded Commission staff, security agencies, and stakeholders who supported voter sensitisation and logistics coordination across the state.
Reaffirming INEC’s readiness, Prof. Amupitan said all 5,718 polling units will open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. “We are deploying the BVAS for accreditation and result upload to the IReV portal. Over 24,000 trained ad hoc staff are ready, and 6,879 BVAS devices have been fully tested, configured, and backed up,” he disclosed.
He added that over 3,000 vehicles and 83 boats, supported by security escorts, will convey personnel and materials—particularly to riverine communities. The INEC Situation Room in Abuja will monitor field operations in real time to ensure prompt response to any challenge.