The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday convened a high-level meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), urging security agencies to intensify preparations for a series of critical electoral activities scheduled over the next six months.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Held at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, the meeting brought together top security officials, including National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and representatives of various intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

In his address, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, warned that the commission was entering a busy electoral calendar that would demand significant security mobilization.

“Over the next six months, the Commission has lined up several elections and electoral activities. Today’s meeting comes right in the middle of this buildup. Three of these scheduled activities require full security coverage,” Yakubu stated.

Key Electoral Activities Ahead

1. By-elections – August 16, 2025
The first major activity is a set of by-elections slated for Saturday, August 16, to fill vacancies in 16 constituencies across 12 states. These elections will span 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and nearly 7,000 polling units.
According to Yakubu, the vacant positions include:

• 2 senatorial seats

• 5 federal constituencies

• 9 state assembly constituencies

Additionally, rerun elections mandated by court rulings will also take place in Enugu South I State Constituency (Enugu State) and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency (Kano State), both of which had previously been disrupted by violence and electoral malpractice.

2. Anambra Governorship Election – November 8, 2025
The second major electoral exercise is the off-cycle Anambra State governorship election. INEC will conduct Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in all 326 wards of the state from July 8 to 17.
Yakubu acknowledged that the security environment had improved since the last election but cautioned against complacency.
“While conditions appear calmer, I urge you to use the CVR as a preparatory test to fine-tune your security deployment strategies,” he said.

3. Nationwide CVR – Begins August 18, 2025
The third major activity is the nationwide resumption of CVR. Online pre-registration will open on August 18, followed by physical, in-person registration starting August 25.

Security Flashpoints and Call for Vigilance

The INEC Chairman also flagged specific security concerns raised by political parties, civil society organisations, and the media during recent consultations.
“These flashpoints will be presented during this meeting for your urgent and necessary action,” he told security heads.

He called for comprehensive and proactive arrangements to protect INEC personnel, electoral materials, and voters, stressing that public confidence in the process hinges on effective security.

Federal Government’s Position

In a message delivered on his behalf by the Director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, NSA Nuhu Ribadu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure credible and violence-free elections.

“Our top priority is safeguarding the integrity of the upcoming elections — whether in the FCT, the by-elections, or the Anambra governorship poll. We must ensure that voters can cast their ballots freely, without fear or intimidation,” he said.

Ribadu also disclosed that intelligence-gathering and proactive strategies will be intensified in states identified as high-risk zones, particularly those vulnerable to subversive threats.

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