The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the deployment of 42,000 police personnel to ensure security during the upcoming 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) 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 deployment was part of a comprehensive strategy to guarantee safety before, during, and after the election.
According to him, the police will begin pre-election operations on November 1, during which tactical units will conduct clearance operations aimed at neutralizing potential threats and arresting identified troublemakers.
Egbetokun also made it clear that only security agencies officially represented in ICCES — including the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Armed Forces — would be involved in election duties.
“No vigilante group will be allowed to participate in any capacity during the electoral process,” he warned.
The police chief further disclosed that movement restrictions would be enforced on Election Day, with all entry and exit points in the state heavily manned to prevent infiltration by criminal elements.
“We are determined to deliver a peaceful, credible, and violence-free election,” he assured.
Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, cautioned politicians and stakeholders against acts of violence, stressing that the government would not tolerate any form of disruption during the election.
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Ribadu, represented by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to maintaining peace and order throughout the electoral period.
“We are engaging with political leaders and local stakeholders to make it clear that violence will not be tolerated,” he stated, urging political parties and candidates to conduct themselves responsibly before, during, and after the polls.
He added that, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive, security agencies had been strategically mobilized for enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response to any security threats.
“These measures are to ensure that no destructive element or desperate politician undermines the integrity of the electoral process,” the NSA’s representative said.