The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the deployment of 42,000 officers for the Anambra governorship election scheduled for Saturday, 8 November 2025.
Egbetokun made the announcement on Tuesday during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
Represented by the Commissioner of Police for the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, the IGP stated that the deployment aims to guarantee adequate security before, during, and after the election.
He revealed that pre-election deployments would commence on 1 November, with tactical units carrying out clearance operations to neutralise threats and apprehend potential troublemakers.
Egbetokun emphasised 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 participate in the electoral process.
“No vigilante group will be permitted to play any role in the election,” he said.
The police, he added, would impose movement restrictions on Election Day and secure all entry and exit points across Anambra State.
“We are determined to deliver a peaceful and credible election,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, warned politicians and stakeholders against any act of violence during the polls, stressing that such behaviour would not be tolerated.
Represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, Ribadu reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful and secure environment for the election.
“We are engaging political leaders and local stakeholders to make it clear that violence will not be tolerated,” he said, urging political parties and candidates to promote peace before, during, and after the poll.
He further noted that the Office of the NSA remains dedicated to implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the strategic mobilisation of security forces during the election period.
According to him, enhanced surveillance, adequate deployment of security personnel, and improved intelligence gathering have been established to deter any attempt by “destructive elements or desperate politicians” to disrupt the electoral process.