The Nigeria Police Force says Deputy Inspector General of Police, Benjamin Okolo, has taken over as the top officer supervising every police operative assigned to the 8th of November, 2025 Anambra governorship poll.
DIG Okolo, joined by Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Yakubu Kwazhi, stood in for the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, during the peace accord signing by political parties and other election engagements.
A statement issued on Thursday, the 6th of November, 2025, by the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, explained that Okolo’s mandate covers planning, deployments, and enforcement of police rules during the election.
The statement read in part, “This deployment forms part of the strategic security measures approved by the Inspector General of Police to ensure a peaceful, credible, and professionally managed election environment across Anambra State.
“The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the electoral process, protecting the rights of citizens, and ensuring that all individuals and political actors conduct themselves in accordance with the law.
“The public is urged to remain law-abiding and to cooperate fully with Police officers and other security personnel detailed for election duties.”
To assist Okolo in managing election security, the command listed AIG Akoh Gabriel, the Commissioner of Police for the Anambra Governorship Election, CP Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioners of Police posted to the 21 local government areas, and several other senior officers.
The Commissioner of Police handling the election, Shogunle, also confirmed that security presence would now rise from 45,000 to 55,000 officers.
He said, “The increase in security personnel is not to intimidate eligible voters but to ensure effective operations and safety at every polling unit. We want to guarantee voters’ confidence in coming out to cast their ballots without fear.
“The increase is not to scare legitimate voters but to guarantee effective operations and protection of voters and electoral officials.
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“The number would be increased to 55,000 as against the initial 45,000 personnel, and they would include immigration, NDLEA, DSS, among others and we assure you all that it would be a free fair and transparent.
“The personnel include officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Immigration Service, NDLEA, DSS, and other sister agencies, with at least three security officers assigned to each polling unit across the state.
“We assure the people of Anambra that the election will be free, fair, transparent, and devoid of intimidation. Our collective aim is to ensure the safety of voters, INEC officials, and all stakeholders involved.
“What we are doing here at the Central Bank of Nigeria is the delivery of the sensitive materials, which are BIVAS, forms EC8A and EC8B, for the Saturday election.”