Political parties and candidates for the Anambra State governorship election have signed a peace deal ahead of the poll on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The signing, which took place on Monday at the International Convention Centre in Awka, was sponsored by the National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State Abdulsalam Abubakar.
Bishop Mathew Kukah, of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, presided over the event.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance, All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, African Democratic Congress, and Treaty Party were among the parties represented by candidates at the signing of the peace treaty.
Others are Action Alliance, African Action Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, and New Nigeria Political Party, among others.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ben Okolo, stated that appropriate security officers had been deployed to secure all 21 LGs in the state.
He encouraged candidates and their supporters to embrace peace before, during, and after the election.
In order to achieve a peaceful, credible, and violence-free governorship election in the state, he emphasized the value of political tolerance and respect for democratic principles.
He said, “Today, Monday, November 3, 2025, witnessed the signing of a peace accord among the flag bearers of political parties participating in the forthcoming election. The peace accord signifies the importance of political tolerance and respect for democratic values.
“We urge all candidates and their supporters to commit genuinely to peace before, during, and after the election. We reaffirm the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to provide adequate security for the election.
“The police would remain neutral and professional in the discharge of their duties. We commend the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, for his proactive security engagements and continuous advocacy for peaceful participation across the state.”
Also speaking, Chief Ugwoji, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Anambra State Chapter, urged the people to maintain a calm, peaceful, and nonviolent environment throughout the election and to avoid all sorts of inducement.
Ugwoji urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure the election’s fairness, smoothness, and credibility by plugging all loopholes, including, but not limited to, ensuring that polling cubicles are spacious enough for voters to enter, thumbprint, and insert ballot papers into the ballot boxes provided therein, thereby reducing the chances of inducement and vote buying.
Also speaking, Kukah urged candidates and their parties to completely commit to the text and spirit of the agreement.
He also praised members of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security for their efforts to keep the state safe and secure.
He congratulated the Anambra State government for its generosity in organizing the event.
“Shun violence and intimidation, and remember that as politicians, you must demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship, as that is a key trait of good leadership.
“We enjoin the people of Anambra State to lead according to the light for which their state is known.
“This peace accord is a hand-holding exercise aimed at making democracy more functional for the people. It will also bring in a certain improvement in the electoral process,” he said.
Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of INEC, urged candidates and parties to commit to a peaceful election.
He said, “Your commitment to its implementation is critical. Therefore, as you sign the peace accord, you should commit to its implementation and ensure your supporters at all levels comply.”
The INEC chair also stated that the commission had taken steps to resolve election day problems, particularly the persistent issue of logistics.
Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the APGA governorship candidate, committed to following the rules and procedures governing the election.
Soludo hoped that the peaceful climate would be maintained during and after the elections and urged other parties to follow suit.
He said, “We welcome the INEC chair to Anambra State. He is well-deserving of the appointment. My fellow candidates are all my friends. By Saturday, the ‘roforofo’ will end, and by Sunday, we will all know our stand after INEC has declared the results.
“I sincerely thank Bishop Kukah and the former head of state, Abdulsam Abubakar, for this initiative. Reading through the peace agreement, it is something we should take seriously. What we signed today, as we go home, let’s try to domesticate it.
“The processes that have been deployed in Anambra have gone to give us the confidence that a free, fair, and credible election is assured. What we want to assure you on our own part is that we are ready, and I am sure my fellow candidates are ready.
“We want to ensure that the first election under Prof. Amupitan is better because INEC has been getting better in each election. We thank the IG for reassuring Ndi Anambra that the police are ready. We have 5,720 polling units. From what you have read to us, one is to secure the entire state, and the second is to secure the entire electoral process.
“And as a state, we are ready to ensure that process. If each of us commits to implementing this agreement, for us our own commitment is nothing short of one man, one vote, and we will do everything to assist the police and INEC to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process.”
