INEC Seeks Enhanced Security Measures for Upcoming Elections
…as NSA Assures Integrity in Forthcoming Elections
By Raphael Ekpang
Ahead of the upcoming bye-elections, the Anambra State Governorship election and the resumption of the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has called on 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 a hitch free elections.
Prof Yakubu made the call on Friday, June 27, at the second regular meeting of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES) held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Adding that “There are some specific areas of security concern raised at our consultative meetings with Political Parties, Civil Society Organisations and the Media earlier this week. These concerns will be presented to you for your necessary action at this meeting.”
He said, “Over the next six months, the Commission has scheduled a number of elections and electoral activities. 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. The bye-elections will be held in 12 States of the Federation involving 32 Local Government Areas, 356 Wards and 6,987 Polling Units on Saturday 16th August 2025. To aid your operational plans, the full delimitation details of the 16 constituencies are enclosed in your folders for this meeting. The same information is also available on our website. 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.
“The third activity is the resumption of the CVR nationwide beginning with the online pre-registration of voters on 18th August 2025, followed by the in-person registration on 25th August 2025. The exercise will take place in our State and Local Government offices throughout the country. The full details will be made public soon and we will share same information with security agencies.
“ As we plan for the bye-elections, the Anambra State Governorship election and the resumption of the CVR, I call 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 these activities. There are some specific areas of security concern raised at our consultative meetings with Political Parties, Civil Society Organisations and the Media earlier this week. These concerns will be presented to you for your necessary action at this meeting,” he concluded.
However, the National Security Adviser (NSA) under the leadership of Nuhu Ribadu has emphasized the importance of ensuring free, fair, and secure elections in Nigeria’s upcoming electoral activities, noting that the NSA’s office is working to secure several elections, including; Bye-elections, 16 constituencies across 12 states on August 16, 2025
Also, Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025, *FCT Area Council Election which preparations are underway also, and continuous Voter Registration (CVR) which resumes on August 18 (online) and August 25 (in-person)
The NSA said it office will Intensify Intelligence Efforts-Monitor and pre-empt potential threats, Provide Real-Time Intelligence, enable proactive measures to address security challenges and collaborate with Security Agencies to Strengthen partnerships to ensure election security.
The NSA’s office assured that it will maintain dialogue with political parties and candidates to reduce tensions and promote peaceful elections while warning political actors against misconduct
Core Reporters report that the NSA’s office is prioritizing and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process, ensuring eligible voters can exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation.
