The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has deployed CP Abayomi Shogunle as the Commissioner of Police to take charge of policing in Anambra State for the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, on Tuesday.
Ikenga said the posting is aimed at enhancing strategic security planning towards ensuring a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process in the State.
The statement read in parts, “The Anambra State Police Command today, November 4, 2025, wishes to announce the resumption of CP Abayomi Shogunle, as the Commissioner of Police to take charge of policing in the state for the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, November 8, 2025.
“CP Shogunle’s posting is in line with the policing operational strategy approved by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, aimed at enhancing strategic security planning towards ensuring a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process in the state.
“Upon assumption of duty, CP Shogunle activates the IGP’s Enforcement Protocol for anti-electoral offences to ensure a zero tolerance for ballot snatching, vote-buying, political thuggery, and voter intimidation.
“The CP has also stepped up the Electoral Offences Desk to monitor social media and online spaces towards identifying cyber-related crimes for prompt investigation and prosecution.
“The CP has also emplaced a central command framework to ensure real-time intelligence sharing, coordination, and rapid response with a joint deployment of over 60,000 security personnel of agencies within the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security who will secure the 5,720 polling units with tactical reserves along inter-LGA and State boundaries, and also designated election collation centres.”
According to him, the CP has also reiterated the total ban on all vigilante groups, such as Agunechemba and all other quasi-security groups in the state, as only the Federal Government security agencies are authorised to provide election security duties as provided by the laws of the federation.
“Furthermore, VIP movements with armed escorts or security aides at polling or collation centres are strictly prohibited, as violators will face immediate apprehension, withdrawal of such escorts, and prosecution.
“Only designated INEC officials, accredited observers, and journalists are allowed to move freely between designated areas.
“The CP further called on political actors, community leaders, and the electorate to support the police and other security agencies in maintaining peace before, during, and after the election. The Commissioner of Police can be reached on 0809-600-0079,” the statement concluded.
PUNCH Online reported that 16 candidates are vying for the election to wrest power from the incumbent, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who is also the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
