With just a week to the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved a final register containing 2,802,790 eligible voters for the poll.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the signing of the Peace Accord for the off-cycle election organised by the National Peace Committee (NPC) in Awka on Monday.
According to Amupitan, the Commission has concluded plans to deploy 24,000 personnel and election materials across 5,718 polling units, 326 ward collation centres, and 21 local government and state collation centres in the state capital.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to tackling vote-buying, warning that anyone caught attempting to subvert the will of the people would face the full weight 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 will deploy 10,250 officers, alongside other security agencies,” he said.
Amupitan assured voters of improved logistics, transparency, and adherence to global best practices during the election.
He noted that the Commission remained committed to the principles of fairness and accountability as enshrined in the Peace Accord.
He urged political parties, candidates, and their supporters to respect the peace pact, stressing that genuine commitment not mere signatures would ensure a credible election.
“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 will be at risk, and ultimately, the credibility of the process will be undermined,” he said.
The INEC boss described the signing of the Peace Accord as a reaffirmation of stakeholders’ commitment to peaceful and credible elections, commending the proactive efforts of security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society groups, and the media.
“The Commission has taken deliberate measures to overcome operational challenges and guarantee a smooth and credible election across the state,” Amupitan stated.
He also lauded the National Peace Committee for its consistent role in promoting peaceful elections across Nigeria, expressing optimism that its engagement with stakeholders would further strengthen the nation’s democratic values.