The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) said it was battle-ready to stop vote buying, intimidation and violence on Anambra State’s November 8, 2025, governorship election.
According to the leadership of the INEC, recognised voice to the people, voters and party agents were determined to work together to ensure that the poll was credible, free and fair as promised by the electoral umpire.
The National Chairman of IPAC, Dr Yusuf M. Dantalle, who stated this at stakeholders’ engagement and voter sensitisation press conference at Awka, on Tuesday, urged voters to come out en masse and elect the candidate of their choice without fear or favour.
Dantalle, represented by the IPAC National Publicity Secretary and National Woman leader of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Mrs Oge Chinyere Kalu, said he was sure that votes would count and be protected.
According to him, IPAC would provide necessary support to INEC to ensure that the poll was credible and fair because voting without inducements or intimidation would promote good governance and strengthen democracy.
He, however, urged the candidates and political parties to maintain issue-based campaigns, sensitise the electorate’s and allow their will to prevail at the end because leadership, according to him, should be earned through ballots, not coercion or manipulation.
‘Election is not war. It is a democratic contest of ideas and vision. Therefore, everyone must prioritise issue-based campaigns, maturity, tolerance and sportsmanship. We must place. Anambra’s interest is above personal ambition. We must reject hate speech, incitement or any act that could undermine Anambra’s peace and unity. All the stakeholders are invited to make the election credible, responsive and secure,’ he added.
The IPAC National boss also enjoined the electoral umpire to strictly adhere to the Electoral Act 2022, INEC guidelines and constitutional provisions for neutrality, inclusivity, transparency and professionalism to guarantee a level playing.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) and IPAC Director-General, Dr Prince Chinedu Obi, described the briefing as a tradition to sensitise stakeholders during elections so as to empower them to mobilise members and supporters towards a successful poll.
Earlier speaking, the State Chairman of IPAC and ZLP, Comrade Uchenna Ugwuorji, thanked the national leadership, assuring that they would vote and mobilise team members to vote wisely on the election day.