By Abiola Olawale
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the deployment of 45,000 security personnel to Anambra State ahead of the November 8, 2025, Governorship election in the state.
This security surge is said to be aimed at providing a shield around the electoral process, securing lives, materials, and ensuring a violence-free environment for voters.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun confirmed the security development.
According to him, the Police have designed a security architecture to cover the 5,720 polling units across all 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Egbetokun said this on Tuesday at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at INEC Headquarters, Abuja.
The IGP, represented at the event by the Commissioner of Police for Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, said the deployment would ensure adequate security before, during, and after the polls.
He announced that pre-election deployments would begin on November 1, with tactical units conducting clearance operations to neutralize threats and arrest potential troublemakers.
Egbetokun also disclosed that only security agencies officially represented in the ICCES—such as the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the military—would be involved in the election.
“No vigilante group will be allowed to play any role in the electoral process,” the IGP said.
He disclosed that the police would impose movement restrictions on Election Day and ensure all entry and exit points in Anambra are adequately manned.
“We are determined to deliver a peaceful and credible election,” he said.
On his part, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, cautioned politicians and stakeholders against violence in the election, warning that such wouldn’t be tolerated.
Ribadu, who was represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful and secure environment for the November 8, 2025, poll.
“We are engaging with political leaders and local stakeholders to send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated,” he said, asking political parties and candidates to promote peace and discourage violence before, during, and after the exercise.
