Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, has delivered a stern caution against electoral fraud, especially the practice of purchasing votes, while confirming the commission’s preparedness to oversee a transparent and credible governorship election in Anambra State scheduled for November 8.
During Tuesday’s Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security session held in Abuja, Amupitan made these commitments clear.
Speaking on voter manipulation, the INEC head promised vigorous partnership with security forces and anti-graft bodies to eradicate vote-buying from Nigeria’s electoral landscape.
“Anyone attempting to bribe voters ahead of or during the Anambra election should expect maximum legal consequences. Collectively, we must fight this menace, preserve democratic principles, and pursue electoral credibility with unwavering determination,” he remarked.
Emphasizing his commitment to electoral honesty, Amupitan announced, “INEC is turning a new page. I want to personally reaffirm my dedication to organizing transparent elections that truly represent what Nigerians want.”
The commission head revealed that immediate steps are being taken to resolve internet connection challenges discovered during a practice accreditation drill held the previous weekend across the state. This test run aimed to examine how well the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System functions and how effectively results can be transmitted through the INEC Result Viewing Portal.
“Our recent mock exercise covered 12 polling stations spread across half a dozen local government areas in Anambra State. Despite experiencing connectivity problems, we are working to guarantee smooth operations come November 8, 2025. The commission stands prepared for comprehensive deployment on voting day,” Amupitan clarified.
According to the INEC chairman, roughly 24,000 election workers will be distributed among 5,718 polling stations statewide, with vote counting happening at 326 ward collection points, 21 local government offices, and finally at Awka’s State Collation Centre.
Regarding voter readiness, Amupitan declared an extension for Permanent Voter Card pickup in Anambra from Wednesday, October 29, until Sunday, November 2, allowing more qualified voters to collect their documentation.
“Our goal is ensuring every qualified voter can exercise their franchise,” he stressed.
The electoral head praised security organizations for their collaborative approach in creating a safe voting environment, highlighting that inter-agency cooperation remains crucial for maintaining democratic confidence among citizens.
“Collaboration across all security bodies is mandatory, especially when electoral credibility holds such significance,” he observed.
Amupitan also shared that the commission had completed transportation arrangements with logistics groups, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, to move election supplies and personnel.
“Our fleet comprises 200 buses and 83 watercraft to guarantee efficient transportation of staff and critical materials,” he stated.
The security conference, co-chaired by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu through his office’s Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, brought together top security, intelligence, and enforcement officials to polish operational plans for conducting a violence-free election.
Amupitan voiced optimism that collective dedication from all parties would make the Anambra governorship election an exemplar of electoral excellence.
“Challenges lie before us, but through unity, our capabilities are limitless,” he declared.
INEC data indicates that approximately 2.8 million registered voters will cast ballots in the election. From 13 planned activities in the electoral calendar, 11 have been accomplished, with campaign activities ending on November 6 and voting day fixed for November 8.
The BVAS system, deployed during the 2023 nationwide elections, is designed to authenticate voter identities using biometric technology and electronically relay results instantly via the IReV portal. Nevertheless, technical setbacks encountered during the last general election motivated the commission to strengthen its digital systems ahead of the Anambra contest.
