Ahead of Saturday, November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election, the Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning to non-state actors, including Ebube Agu, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the Eastern Security Network, ESN, to stay away from the electoral process.
Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, issued the warning in Awka on Monday, during the signing ceremony of a peace accord by political parties and candidates.
Represented by DIG Ben Okoro, he declared that the provision of security during the election is solely the responsibility of federal security agencies.
“Any attempt by IPOB, ESN, or any other non-state actor to interfere with the forthcoming election shall invite an immediate, coordinated, and overwhelming law enforcement response,” the police warned.
Egbetokun said precision-targeted intelligence operations were already underway to identify and dismantle networks plotting violence or intimidation, adding that “the peace of Anambra State shall not be negotiated.”
He cautioned that any person or group bearing arms, performing unauthorized security duties, or intimidating voters would be treated as armed non-state actors and prosecuted under the Firearms Act, Criminal Code, and Terrorism, Prevention and Prohibition, Act 2022.
The police also announced a zero-tolerance enforcement protocol, warning that electoral offenses such as vote buying, ballot snatching, and voter intimidation would be treated as criminal threats to national security. Movement restrictions were also outlined, no VIP or political appointee will be allowed to move with armed escorts, while campaigning or partisan display at polling units will attract immediate arrest.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, commended the National Peace Committee, NPC, for sustaining peaceful election initiatives nationwide.
Amupitan said the Commission was deploying 24,000 officials across 5,718 polling units, supported by 45,000 police personnel and 10,250 Civil Defence officers, to guarantee a credible and violence-free election.
He reaffirmed INEC’s readiness to deliver a transparent process, warning that any attempt to subvert the will of the people through vote-buying or violence would be firmly resisted.
“It is not the signatures on this Peace Accord that guarantee peace, but genuine commitment to honouring its provisions. Let this election be remembered not for division or discord, but for unity and democratic values,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by Lt Gen Martin Luther Agwai rted, reminded the candidates and their parties that the commitment to the peace accord “is not in words only but it is a duty that calls for discipline, honor and responsibility.”
He called on INEC to ensure that the election was credible, urging the security agencies to protect and not intimidate while urging the traditional institutions to ensure proper guidance.
Agwai further said: “Leadership is not only in seeking of it, but in safeguarding peace and ensuring that there is no life is put at risk, To INEC, we urge continued transparency and readiness for the trust of the people rests greatly on your conduct.
“To the IGP and all security agencies, we appeal for professionalism, impartiality and calm, assurance.
“The purpose of security is to protect and not to intimidate. To our respected traditional rulers and religious leaders, we recognize your role as custodian of wisdom and unity, your voices of guidance will be needed to uphold peace within our communities.
“To the media, we appeal for reporting that inform and build understanding and not reporting that instil fear or division.”
