Anambra, FCT, other polls: FG warns against violence, malpractices

By Jude Opara

Ahead of the forthcoming bye-elections, Anambra governorship and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Polls elections, the Federal Government has warned political actors to conduct themselves with decorum, saying any form of violence and malpractices has no place in elections.

Peoples Daily reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed August 16, 2025 for bye-elections in 12 states, November 8 for Anambra guber polls and scheduled FCT Area Council election for February 21, 2026.

The Federal Government issued the warning through its National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu Ribadu, at the second regular consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

Represented by the Director, Internal Security in his office, Hassan Abdullahi, the NSA said the primary aim of the committee was to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming elections.

“Therefore, we must ensure that eligible voters exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation. In this regard, we will strengthen collaboration between security and law enforcement agencies to quickly address potential threats and challenges during the elections.

“Accordingly, the security component of ICCES will, among other things, intensify intelligence efforts to monitor and pre-empt any threats to these elections and provide real-time intelligence to enable the implementation of proactive measures.

“This is especially in states that are infested with recalcitrant subversive non-state actors who could be exploited by desperate politicians to undermine the elections,” he said.

Ribadu added that his office will also maintain dialogue with the leadership of political parties and candidates to foster understanding and reduce tensions, noting that engagement with these stakeholders has proven effective in the past and should remain a priority.

Earlier, the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu called on the security agencies to make adequate and proactive arrangements for the protection of personnel and assets to be deployed by the commission and all stakeholders for those elections and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

Yakubu said there were some specific areas of security concern raised at its consultative meetings with political parties, civil society organisations and the media executives, adding that these concerns will be presented to security agencies for necessary action during this meeting.

“Today’s meeting is holding in the middle of two electoral activities. Three of these activities require security deployment. First is the conduct of bye-elections to fill vacancies in 16 constituencies in two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies and nine State Assembly constituencies.

“Furthermore, two outstanding Court-ordered re-run elections severally disrupted by thuggery and violence will also be held on the same date upon assurances from the relevant security agencies for adequate security. These are the Enugu South I State Constituency in Enugu State and the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency in Kano State.

“The second activity is the off-cycle Governorship election in Anambra State scheduled for 8th November 2025. Related to the election is the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the State from 8th to 17th July 2025. Only yesterday, the Commission released the timelines and locations of the exercise which will be held simultaneously in all the 326 Wards in the State.

“Although the security situation in the State is calmer than what it was on the eve of the last Governorship election four years ago, I urge you to use the CVR to finetune your preparations for securing the forthcoming elections. Detailed information on the CVR centres is enclosed in your folders for this meeting.