Anambra guber: INEC tasks security agencies on vote buying

By Jude Opara, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday charged security agencies to ensure they arrest those who would want to engage in vote buying during the November 8 governorship election in Anambra state.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu gave the charge in his remarks at the first quarterly consultative meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Yakubu who is also a co-chair of the ICCES further said that the Commission has already released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Anambra State Governorship election as well as the end-of-tenure Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) scheduled for Saturday 21st February 2026.

“The Anambra State, election will be held in 5,720 Polling Units while results will be collated at 326 Ward centres, 21 Local Government Areas and the State Collation Centre in Awka.

“There is of course a lot of work to do, especially in combating vote buying. The Commission is happy with our collaboration with the law enforcement agencies, particularly the anti-graft agencies. Beyond the arrest of vote buyers on Election Day, our active partnership has so far resulted in the successful prosecution of some offenders in three States of the Federation.

“As you are aware, the problem also manifests itself during the party primaries for the election of candidates. In the same way that voters are targeted at Polling Units on Election Day, so too is delegate-buying at the venues of congresses and conventions for the election of candidates.

“As you can see from the Timetable and Schedule of Activities included in your folders for this meeting, party primaries for the Anambra State Governorship election begin next month, followed by the Area Council election in the FCT in June. We should continue to work together in partnership with other critical stakeholders to address the menace”.

The INEC boss further assured that the Commission is also preparing for bye-elections to fill vacancies in the National and State legislative houses.

“As you are aware, nine bye-elections were conducted last year. Since then, 16 more vacancies have occurred in 12 States of the Federation involving two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies for election to the House of Representatives and nine State Assembly Constituencies.

“In due course, the Commission will make the delimitation details available to you to guide your operational deployment for forthcoming elections. This will include the detailed locations of the Polling Units, the Registration Area Centres, the Wards, Local Government and State collation centres. As usual, we will also provide you with information on the terrain, including difficult land and riverine locations. We will also make available to you our preliminary assessment of the security situation that may warrant your special attention”.

Responding, Hassan Yahaya Abdulahi, Director Internal Security in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) who represented the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu said the security agencies already have their task cut out for them, adding that they would discharge their duties with the utmost responsibility.

Abdulahi further assured that they will continue to collaborate with INEC to ensure that the security before, during and after elections was always maintained.