Anambra Gov Poll Peace Accord Signed: Amupitan Visits
By: Abudu Olalekan
November 8, 2025. That’s the day. The big Anambra governorship election. Before the real sweat starts, everybody had to sit down. Monday was the day for the peace pact. A whole peace signing ceremony in Awka. You know the drill, right? Political parties, candidates—everybody promising not to fight. Swear on your mother’s name that you won’t cause trouble.
This whole big deal was organized by the Kukah Centre, under the umbrella of the National Peace Committee. General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retired, of course) and Bishop Matthew Kukah were there, chairing the whole affair. It’s a formal setup, but it always feels a little bit tense, like a high school assembly where the principals are watching you very close. Representatives from INEC, the police, the traditional rulers—they all showed up. APGA, APC, PDP, Labour Party, ADC, Accord Party—the whole gang was present.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, he flew in specifically for this. He had a stakeholders’ meeting too. He was adamant. Said INEC is ready. Ready to deliver an election that’s fair, transparent, and actually reflects what the people want. No funny business.
He made some big promises about the timing. Logistics, see, that’s always the headache in Nigerian elections. Amupitan said they’ve fixed it. Materials should hit the polling units by 7 AM. Voting starts promptly at 8:30 AM. No more dilly-dallying. He stressed they worked with security and transport guys to make sure the ad hoc staff and materials get where they supposed to go across all 21 local government areas. “Remarkable improvement,” he told everyone. We hope so, Prof.
We are looking at a final register of just over 2.8 million eligible voters. Twenty-four thousand personnel will be spread across 5,718 polling units. Big operation, that. Amupitan assured the parties that result collation will be open. Party agents will be present. And everything must match the BVAS records. Strict adherence, he insisted.
Then came the security detail. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, sent his Deputy, DIG Ben Okoro. They promised heavy security across all 21 LGAs. Okoro used the formal language: political tolerance, respect for democracy, yadda yadda. But then he got serious. Police will be neutral. Professional. He gave props to the Anambra CP, though.
But the real warning shot? Egbetokun said anyone trying to disrupt things—anyone at all—will face “decisive and lawful force.” No VIP escorts with armed men on election day. That’s a tough stance. Even tougher was the message to non-state actors. IPOB? ESN? He told them straight up: Steer clear. Security during the election is strictly federal law enforcement business. Any interference, and they’d face an “immediate and overwhelming response.” Forty-five thousand police officers deployed, plus over 10,000 from NSCDC. That’s a lot of boots on the ground.
The local political council chair, Chief Ugwoji, urged INEC to be fair, but he also told voters: Don’t take money for your vote! And use the voting booths properly; he asked INEC to make sure the cubicles give enough privacy so nobody can check who you voted for. Smart thinking that.
Bishop Kukah, bless him, kept it spiritual but firm. Shun violence. Show sportsmanship. He called the accord a “hand-holding exercise” to make democracy work better.
Governor Soludo, who is also the APGA candidate, spoke for the candidates. He said his fellow contestants are his friends. He was very relaxed. “By Saturday, the ‘roforofo’ [the serious fighting/rowdiness] will end,” he joked. Then Sunday, the results will show where everyone stands. He promised to uphold what they signed.
Even the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, chipped in, telling folks to vote their conscience and ditch vote-buying and apathy. The future of Anambra hangs on this one.
Finally, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, gave the nuts and bolts update. Non-sensitive materials are out. BVAS devices? Configured and tested. Even generators are set up at collation centers for power, just in case. It sounds like they really mean business this time. Reportersroom will be watching those logistics very closely.
