45,000 Police Personnel to be Deployed for Anambra Governorship Election
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of 45,000 police officers to ensure maximum security during the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
Egbetokun made this known on Tuesday during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), held at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja.
Represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, the IGP explained that the large-scale deployment aims to guarantee a safe and credible electoral process before, during, and after the polls.
He revealed that security operations would commence ahead of the election, with tactical teams beginning pre-election deployments on November 1. These units, he said, would carry out clearance missions to identify and apprehend potential troublemakers while neutralizing threats across the state.
Egbetokun further clarified that only recognized security agencies under ICCES—including the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Armed Forces—would participate in election security.
He stressed that no local vigilante group would be permitted to take part in the process. “In line with our operational plan, movement will be restricted on Election Day. All major entry and exit points in Anambra will be secured to prevent infiltration or disruption,” Egbetokun stated, adding that the police were committed to ensuring a peaceful and transparent election.
Also speaking at the event, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, urged political actors and stakeholders to shun violence, warning that any attempt to breach the peace would be dealt with decisively.
Ribadu, represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, assured that the Federal Government was fully committed to safeguarding the electoral process and maintaining stability throughout the election period.
“We are working closely with political parties and community leaders to send a strong message that violence and intimidation will not be tolerated. Everyone must play their part in ensuring a peaceful election,” he emphasized.
According to Abdullahi, the NSA’s office is implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the coordinated mobilization of security forces for election security.
He added that enhanced intelligence gathering, strategic surveillance, and the deployment of adequate personnel have been activated to prevent any attempts by “desperate elements” to undermine the credibility of the polls.
The Anambra governorship election marks a major test of Nigeria’s security readiness for credible elections, as authorities intensify efforts to maintain peace and voter confidence in the democratic process.
