Anambra Governorship Poll: INEC Distributes Sensitive Materials as Police Deploy 55,000 Officers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive materials ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship election in Anambra State.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, supervised the exercise, which involved dispatching materials to the 21 local government areas of the state. She urged voters to come out in large numbers to exercise their civic rights, assuring them of a credible and transparent election.

According to Agwu, distribution began at 9 a.m. on Thursday and included key items such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Forms EC8A, and EC8B. The process was monitored by political party agents and security personnel to ensure fairness and accountability.

“All sensitive materials have been moved to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) without any hitch. INEC, in collaboration with political parties, security agencies, and civil society organisations, has made adequate preparations for a free, fair, and credible election,” she said.

The REC also dispelled fears of vote manipulation, urging citizens not to stay away from the polls. “Do not assume your vote won’t count or that your candidate has already won. INEC is fully prepared to deliver a credible and peaceful election,” she assured.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police overseeing election security in Anambra, Abayomi Shogunle, announced an increase in security personnel from 45,000 to 55,000 to ensure maximum safety during the poll.

He explained that the deployment includes officers from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), Immigration Service, NDLEA, and other security agencies, with at least three personnel stationed at each polling unit.

“The increase in security presence is not meant to intimidate voters but to protect them and INEC officials throughout the process. We want to guarantee voter confidence and a peaceful environment for everyone,” Shogunle said.

Both INEC and the security agencies have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a transparent, peaceful, and credible governorship election across Anambra State on Saturday.