The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a firm warning against vote-buying in the upcoming November 8 Anambra governorship election, pledging full enforcement of electoral laws in collaboration with security and anti-corruption agencies.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the declaration during a high-level security meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held in Abuja. The session was co-chaired by a representative of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, emphasized the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on voter inducement.

“Any attempt to induce voters will meet the full force of the law,” Amupitan stated, urging stakeholders to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.

INEC reaffirmed its operational readiness for the poll, which will involve 2.8 million registered voters across 5,718 polling units. The Commission recently conducted a test run of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in 12 locations across Anambra State. While network disruptions were reported, INEC assured the public that technical fixes are underway to ensure seamless real-time result transmission via the IReV portal.

To support logistics, INEC will deploy approximately 24,000 personnel across 326 wards and 21 local government areas, with final collation set for Awka, the state capital. The Commission has partnered with transport unions including NURTW and MARWA to mobilize 200 buses and 83 boats, ensuring that election materials reach even the most remote riverine communities.

PVC collection continues through November 2, with INEC encouraging eligible voters to retrieve their cards ahead of the deadline to boost turnout.

Amupitan commended inter-agency cooperation for maintaining peace and order, noting that 11 of 13 operational milestones have been achieved. He described the Anambra election as a critical test of credibility, especially following BVAS-related challenges during the 2023 general elections.

Security agencies echoed INEC’s call for a violence-free process, while observer groups—including one targeting 5,000 monitors—are mobilizing to oversee the vote.

With campaigns set to conclude on November 6, INEC reiterated its commitment to delivering a transparent, secure, and credible election.