The Chairman of Nigeria’s electoral commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has pledged that next month’s Anambra State governorship election will be “peaceful and credible” as political parties and their candidates signed a peace accord on Monday.
At the signing, held under the supervision of the National Peace Committee, Amupitan emphasized that the document’s value lies not in signatures but in genuine commitment. “It is not the signatures on this document that guarantee peace; it is the genuine commitment to honouring its provisions,” he stated.
The effort brings together 16 participating parties, who pledged to eschew violence, refrain from vote buying, and ensure their supporters act in accordance with democratic norms.
To facilitate a smooth process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed deployment plans for 24,000 election personnel across 5,718 polling units. Security preparations include 45,000 police officers and over 10,000 civil defence officers to secure polling stations and maintain order.
Amupitan also cited the extension of PVC (Permanent Voter Card) collection to November 2 to enhance participation. He restated INEC’s determination to confront attempts to manipulate the vote, warning that those who “plan to subvert the will of the people will be firmly confronted.”
Ranking the peace accord as a vital preventive measure, he commended the Peace Committee’s decision to adapt the agreement for off-cycle state elections, noting that previous national agreements have helped reduce electoral tensions nationwide.
The signing marks a coordinated push by stakeholders to ensure the November 8 Anambra election is free from violence and widely accepted as legitimate.
