INEC, NSA Seek Enhanced Security Ahead of Bye-Elections, Anambra Governorship Poll, and Nationwide Voter Registration
Maryam Aminu
As Nigeria prepares for a critical phase in its electoral calendar, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) have called for intensified security collaboration to ensure peaceful conduct of upcoming electoral exercises, including multiple bye-elections, the Anambra State Governorship Election, and the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call during the second quarterly meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Highlighting INEC’s activity roadmap for the next six months, Prof. Yakubu stressed the need for security agencies to adopt proactive strategies, especially for three key engagements: the August 16 bye-elections across 16 constituencies in 12 states; court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu and Kano States and the Anambra Governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
He also announced the resumption of CVR in Anambra from July 8 to 17, covering all 326 wards.
According to the INEC boss, the August elections alone will span 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Wards, and nearly 7,000 Polling Units. He confirmed that detailed deployment information had already been shared with relevant agencies to aid planning.
While noting that Anambra’s security environment has relatively improved since the last governorship poll four years ago, Prof. Yakubu advised that the upcoming CVR exercise in the state be treated as a live simulation to fine-tune election security measures.
He further announced that nationwide voter registration will resume in August, starting with online pre-registration from the 18th, followed by in-person registration from the 25th at all INEC State and Local Government offices. Full operational details will be shared with security stakeholders, he assured.
The INEC Chairman also revealed that security concerns raised by political parties, civil society organisations, and the media have been documented for discussion and possible action by the Committee.
Representing the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Director of Internal Security at the NSA’s office, Mr. Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi, reaffirmed the security community’s commitment to protecting the democratic process.
He commended INEC’s unwavering dedication to electoral integrity.
“The ICCES security agencies will scale up intelligence gathering and surveillance to identify and neutralise threats, particularly in states vulnerable to infiltration by subversive elements possibly exploited by desperate political actors,” Ribadu stated.
He stressed that constructive engagement with political leaders would be essential in de-escalating tension and preventing electoral violence. “Political actors must conduct themselves with maturity and commitment to democratic ideals. Electoral violence and malpractice have no place in our democracy,” he said.
Ribadu added: “Our primary objective is to safeguard the integrity of the elections. We must guarantee that eligible Nigerians can vote without fear or intimidation. Security and law enforcement agencies will enhance coordination to respond swiftly to emerging challenges.”
