A civil society organisation, CLEEN Foundation, has warned that the November 2025 governorship election in Anambra State may be threatened by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, activities of non-state armed groups, politically sponsored cults and thugs, and the rise of state-backed vigilantes if urgent steps are not taken.
The organisation raised the concern on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation of its 2025 Anambra Governorship Election Security Threat Assessment (ESTA).
According to the Director of Programmes at CLEEN Foundation, Dr. Salaudeen Hashim, the assessment identified Ihiala, Ogbaru, Nnewi South, Orumba North, and Onitsha North as high-risk local government areas, while Anambra East, Oyi, Nnewi North, and Awka North were listed as emerging flashpoints.
He said the threats in these areas include IPOB-linked violence, sit-at-home enforcement, attacks on INEC offices, political thuggery, arms stockpiling, cultism, political assassinations, vigilante-politician collusion, and inadequate security coverage. Other concerns highlighted were voter suppression through fear and misinformation, youth gang mobilisation, and manipulation of traditional institutions.
“Fear of violence, targeted killings, and misinformation campaigns, especially through social media, have suppressed voter confidence in volatile areas. There is also evidence of voter migration from unsafe LGAs to more stable ones, which may affect electoral logistics and turnout,” Hashim stated.
The report recommended LGA-specific risk mapping, early warning systems, disarmament of politically linked cult groups, improved security infrastructure, and equitable deployment of security agencies. It also called for countering voter suppression, intensifying voter education, and empowering traditional and community leaders to promote peace.
Earlier, Acting Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma, said the assessment offers a detailed briefing on potential flashpoints, actors of concern, triggers of violence, and mitigation strategies ahead of the election.
He explained that the aim of the report is to make security threat information accessible and actionable for stakeholders, including government agencies, security forces, civil society, and the public, while promoting proactive measures and peaceful polls in Anambra State.
