By Akombo Aondona, Abuja
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Monday 3 November 2025 says the coming Anambra governorship election will be conducted base on the law and in the best of international standards.
Amupitan stated this in a his goodwill message on the occasion of the signing of peace accord ahead of the Aqnambra State off-cycle governorship election in Awka.
Amupitan said: “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 beyond Presidential Elections to include off-cycle Governorship Elections. This became necessary given the tensions and violence that have accompanied some past elections. The first Peace Accord outside Abuja took place in Edo State prior to the September 2020 Governorship Election. Since then, similar engagements have been successfully conducted in seven other states: Ondo (2020), Anambra (2021), Ekiti and Osun (2022), Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi (2023), and Edo again in 2024. Encouragingly, parties and candidates largely honoured their commitments under the Accord, contributing to peaceful outcomes despite pre-election anxieties.
“Today, we gather in Anambra State just days before yet another important Governorship Election, in which 16 political parties will be participating. As the election management body, I want to reassure all political parties and candidates that INEC remains fully committed to discharging its duties in line with the law, global best practices, and the very principles enshrined in the Peace Accord we are about to endorse.”
The INEC chairman continued: “However, let me emphasise that it is not the signatures on this document that guarantee peace; it is the genuine commitment to honouring its provisions. Without peace, logistics will be disrupted, our personnel and materials put at risk, and ultimately, the credibility of the process undermined. Therefore, as you append your signatures today, please ensure the message cascades to your supporters at all levels. This is the surest way to honour the sacrifice and labour of the NPC in advancing peaceful elections.
“By signing this Peace Accord, we are not only affirming our dedication to non-violence and mutual respect among all stakeholders, but we are also sending a strong message to our citizens: that democracy thrives when peace prevails. Each one of us has a part to play in this process, and I urge all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to adhere to the principles of this accord.
“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. Let us demonstrate to the world that Anambra State is a beacon of hope, resilience, and democratic values.
“For our part, the Commission has taken deliberate steps to address operational challenges and ensure a smooth, credible election across the state. We have extensively engaged our officials, transport providers, and security agencies to fine-tune deployment arrangements for 24,000 personnel and election materials across 5,718 Polling Units, 326 Ward Collation Centres, 21 Local Government Collation Centres, and ultimately, the State Collation Centre in Awka. Voters should therefore expect a significant improvement in Election Day logistics. Enhanced result management processes will also be evident.
“The Commission has approved a final register of 2,802,790 eligible voters for the Anambra Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, 8 November 2025. To facilitate maximum participation, we extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) until yesterday, Sunday, 2nd November 2025. Our mandate is to deliver credible elections, and we reaffirm our resolve to combat vote-buying. Any individuals or groups planning to subvert the will of the people will be firmly confronted within the strong hands of the law.
“The Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has instituted robust security measures for this election. The Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 personnel, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is deploying 10,250 officers, alongside other agencies. With the Peace Accord being signed today, the proactive efforts of security agencies, and the valuable contributions of traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, civil society, the media, and other stakeholders, we are confident, by God’s grace, that the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election will be peaceful and successful.
“May God bless our collective efforts and continue to guide our nation toward enduring peace and democratic progress.”
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