By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Commandant Maku Olatunde, has pledged to collaborate with electoral stakeholders to provide security and create a peaceful voting environment, enabling the electorate to exercise their franchise freely.

Maku made the pledge when he received in audience a Civil Society Organization, Yiaga Africa Board and Management team at the Command Headquarters in Awka on Wednesday.

The Commandant represented by Deputy Commandant, Prominence Ukaobi, commended Yiaga Africa’s efforts in supporting security agencies and pledged to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure a free, fair, and credible election in the state.

He emphasized the importance of collaborating with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) like Yiaga Africa to establish early warning systems and gather information to prevent the escalation of election-related violence.

Maku assured that the Corps will support Yiaga Africa in its pre-election assessment mission to the state which is aimed at evaluating the pre-election environment and identifying areas that need strengthening before the election.

The NSCDC boss called on citizens to support the Corps by providing credible intelligence to help avert any potential threats to the Anambra gubernatorial election, acknowledging the critical role of the NSCDC in ensuring electoral security.

In her speech, the Yiaga Director of Programs Mrs. Cynthia Mbamalu stated that their mission to the state was to observe the entire electoral process, covering the pre-election, election proper, and post-election environment.

She said: “NSCDC is a strategic partner in the electoral process given the significant role they play in protecting critical assets for the election.”

She added that Yiaga Africa would undertake various activities in the state before, during, and after the election, including deploying long-term observers to all 21 local government areas to monitor the pre-election environment and gather information on potential indicators of electoral violence, such as hate speech and gender-based violence.