PROTOCOLS
Our respected and esteemed former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace
Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR
Eminent members of the National Peace Committee
Chairman, Senate Committee on Electoral Matters
Deputy Senate Minority Leader
Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters
The Inspector-General of Police
Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III
The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council
The Anambra State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council
The Chairmen of Political Parties in Anambra State
The candidates and their running mates
National Commissioners of INEC
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Anambra
The Commissioner of Police and other Members of ICCES
Religious Leaders
Civil Society Organisations
The Media
Other invited guests
The good citizens of Anambra State
Ladies and Gentlemen
1.
On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I wish to express our
sincere appreciation to the Chairman and distinguished members of the National Peace
Committee (NPC) for their unwavering commitment to fostering peaceful elections in Nigeria.
Your efforts in convening parties, candidates, and stakeholders around a shared vision of peace
continue to make an immeasurable difference to our democracy. As the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, I am proud to be part of the signing of the Peace Accord
for the Anambra State 2025 Governorship Off-Cycle Election.
2.
After witnessing the success of the Peace Accord at the national level, the NPC graciously
agreed, five years ago, to our request to devolve its signing beyond Presidential Elections to
include off-cycle Governorship Elections. This became necessary given the tensions and violence
that have accompanied some past elections. The first Peace Accord outside Abuja took place in
Edo State prior to the September 2020 Governorship Election. Since then, similar engagements
have been successfully conducted in seven other states: Ondo (2020), Anambra (2021), Ekiti and
Osun (2022), Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi (2023), and Edo again in 2024. Encouragingly, parties and
candidates largely honoured their commitments under the Accord, contributing to peaceful
outcomes despite pre-election anxieties.
3.
Today, we gather in Anambra State just days before yet another important Governorship
Election, in which 16 political parties will be participating. As the election management body, I
want to reassure all political parties and candidates that INEC remains fully committed to
discharging its duties in line with the law, global best practices, and the very principles enshrined
in the Peace Accord we are about to endorse.
4.
However, let me emphasise that it is not the signatures on this document that guarantee
peace; it is the genuine commitment to honouring its provisions. Without peace, logistics will be
disrupted, our personnel and materials put at risk, and ultimately, the credibility of the process
undermined. Therefore, as you append your signatures today, please ensure the message
cascades to your supporters at all levels. This is the surest way to honour the sacrifice and labour
of the NPC in advancing peaceful elections.
5.
By signing this Peace Accord, we are not only affirming our dedication to non-violence and
mutual respect among all stakeholders, but we are also sending a strong message to our citizens:
that democracy thrives when peace prevails. Each one of us has a part to play in this process, and
I urge all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to adhere to the principles of this
accord.
6.
Let us work together to ensure that the upcoming election is remembered not for division
or discord, but for its spirit of unity and the pursuit of common goals. Let us demonstrate to the
world that Anambra State is a beacon of hope, resilience, and democratic values.
7.
For our part, the Commission has taken deliberate steps to address operational challenges
and ensure a smooth, credible election across the state. We have extensively engaged our
officials, transport providers, and security agencies to fine-tune deployment arrangements for
24,000 personnel and election materials across 5,718 Polling Units, 326 Ward Collation Centres,
21 Local Government Collation Centres, and ultimately, the State Collation Centre in Awka. Voters
should therefore expect a significant improvement in Election Day logistics. Enhanced result
management processes will also be evident.
8.
The Commission has approved a final register of 2,802,790 eligible voters for the Anambra
Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, 8 November 2025. To facilitate maximum
participation, we extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) until yesterday,
Sunday, 2nd November 2025. Our mandate is to deliver credible elections, and we reaffirm our
resolve to combat vote-buying. Any individuals or groups planning to subvert the will of the
people will be firmly confronted within the strong hands of the law.
9.
The Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) has instituted
robust security measures for this election. The Nigeria Police Force will deploy 45,000 personnel,
while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps is deploying 10,250 officers, alongside other
agencies. With the Peace Accord being signed today, the proactive efforts of security agencies,
and the valuable contributions of traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, civil society,
the media, and other stakeholders, we are confident, by God’s grace, that the 2025 Anambra
Governorship Election will be peaceful and successful.
10. May God bless our collective efforts and continue to guide our nation toward enduring peace
and democratic progress.
11. Thank you all for your commitment to peace, and may this accord guide our actions as we
approach this important moment in our democracy.
God bless the National Peace Committee
God bless Anambra State
God bless Nigeria
Thank you.
Professor Joash O Amupitan, SAN, 3rd November 2025