The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the deployment of 45,000 police personnel for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
Egbetokun announced the decision on Tuesday during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
Represented by the Commissioner of Police for the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, the IGP said the deployment aims to ensure adequate security before, during, and after the election.
He disclosed that pre-election operations would commence on November 1, with tactical teams conducting clearance operations to neutralize threats and arrest potential troublemakers.
Egbetokun emphasized that only security agencies officially represented in the ICCES — including the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the military — would be involved in election duties.
“No vigilante group will be allowed to play any role in the electoral process,” he stated.
He further revealed that movement restrictions would be imposed on Election Day, while security personnel would man all entry and exit points across Anambra to prevent infiltration by criminal elements.
“We are determined to deliver a peaceful and credible election,” the IGP assured.
Also speaking, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, cautioned politicians and stakeholders against acts of violence during the election.
Represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, Ribadu said the Federal Government is committed to ensuring a secure environment for the polls and will not tolerate any attempt to disrupt the process.
“We are engaging political leaders and local stakeholders to send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated,” he said, urging parties and candidates to promote peace throughout the electoral period.
The NSA also noted that his office is implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the strategic mobilization of security forces to safeguard the exercise.
He added that enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering, and deployment of adequate security personnel have been put in place to prevent “destructive elements or desperate politicians” from undermining the credibility of the election.
