INEC praises Soludo security ahead of Anambra election, citing calm atmosphere as vital for credible polls on 8 November 2025
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has commended Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, for what he described as a remarkable turnaround in the security landscape of the state.
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Speaking in Abuja during the second quarterly consultative meeting with political parties at the INEC Conference Room on Thursday, Yakubu said the INEC praises Soludo security development was timely, especially with the governorship election scheduled for 8 November 2025.
“The prevailing atmosphere in Anambra is calm and peaceful—a welcome development. We praise Governor Soludo for this achievement and urge him to sustain the current security tempo to ensure a free, fair, and credible election,” Yakubu said.
He recalled the tense atmosphere ahead of the 2021 governorship election in the state, citing violent attacks on INEC facilities and officials.
According to him, the INEC headquarters in Awka was partially burnt, and vital electoral equipment, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, were destroyed.
Governor Soludo deserves commendation for securing the electoral environment.
“Several local government area offices of the Commission were also set ablaze, electoral materials worth billions of naira were lost, and our staff were injured,” Yakubu recounted.
In contrast, he noted that the improved conditions under Soludo’s leadership were encouraging and crucial to avoiding a repeat of such disruptions.
The INEC Chairman reiterated the Commission’s resolve to work with all stakeholders—governments, security agencies, and political parties—to uphold the integrity of the upcoming poll.
He described the INEC praises Soludo security assessment as a positive signal for democratic consolidation in the South-East region.
“As a Commission, we are committed to ensuring a peaceful and successful conduct of the forthcoming election, and we call on all political actors to support the process constructively,” he added.
The Anambra election is expected to be a litmus test for INEC’s preparedness amid shifting political and security dynamics nationwide.
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With calm restored and institutional collaboration in place, stakeholders hope that the 2025 governorship contest will be a model of credible electoral conduct.
