The National Peace Committee (NPC), led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has announced plans to deploy its newly inaugurated Election Security Information Hub to support security and peace efforts during the upcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025.
The Election Security Information Hub, launched in Abuja on Wednesday, is designed to provide verifiable, data-driven insights to guide engagements between security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society, and other key stakeholders in the electoral process.
Representing the NPC Chairman at the inauguration, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd) emphasized that credible elections can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and stability.
“The strength of any democracy rests on the credibility of its elections and the confidence of citizens in the process. Each election cycle exposes persistent security challenges, weak coordination, and intelligence gaps that escalate local tensions into broader conflict,” Agwai stated.
He explained that the newly launched hub was a strategic response to those challenges, designed to gather, analyze, and share real-time security information during election periods.
“The hub reflects a critical evolution in Nigeria’s democratic architecture. It fosters collaboration among INEC, security agencies, civil society organizations, and the media, creating a unified platform for monitoring risks and strengthening collective action toward peaceful elections,” he added.
Agwai commended the European Union (EU) for its continued partnership under the EU-FDGN Programme and urged stakeholders to ensure information shared through the hub remains credible and evidence-based.
“Peace and security are not products of chance. They are outcomes of vigilance, discipline, professionalism, and shared responsibility,” he said, stressing that credible elections require joint institutional effort.
Speaking at the event, the EU representative, Mr. Ruben Aguilera, said the initiative underscores the right of every Nigerian to vote freely without fear or intimidation.
“Our dream as the European Union is a Nigeria free of conflict — a Nigeria where people can express themselves without fear of persecution or violence. The hub is a vital tool to help achieve that goal,” Aguilera noted.
Representing the Acting INEC Chairman, Mrs. Helen Ajayi, Director of Monitoring and Planning, said the Commission would work closely with the hub to improve election security management.
“With this hub, we can align with INEC’s existing Election Risk Management (ERM) system to enhance data coordination and ensure safer, more credible elections,” Ajayi said. She disclosed that INEC had already mapped out polling units in Anambra with a history of violence to ensure adequate preventive measures.
Earlier, Fr. Atta Barkindo, Executive Director of The Kukah Centre and Head of NPC Secretariat, explained that the hub was developed to curb electoral violence, insecurity, and other malpractices.
Technically supported by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance Programme, the hub will provide a platform for data-driven coordination, including quarterly threat analyses, monthly security trend reports, and state-specific election security reports.
“The hub will serve as a repository for gathering, analyzing, and sharing verified data on insecurity and electoral offences nationwide. It aims to translate early warnings into early, coordinated, and lawful responses by relevant stakeholders,” Barkindo said.
He added that the hub would feature an interactive dashboard, mini situation monitoring room, and periodic podcasts to promote transparency, informed dialogue, and proactive action ahead of the Anambra poll.
According to Barkindo, “The essence of this initiative is to foster collaboration and foresight among election stakeholders, ensuring that threats are identified early and addressed through evidence-based engagement and joint responsibility.”
