Upcoming by-elections: NSA reads the riot act to potential trouble makers

*Says violence, malpractices won’t be tolerated

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Ahead of the forthcoming bye-elections to be held in 12 States of the Federation by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has warned that any form of electoral violence and malpractices will not be taken lightly.

Ridadu specifically warned political actors and their supporters in the affected States and the FCT to conduct themselves with decorum and respect for the democratic process.

The NSA sounded the note of warning on Friday in his address at the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Represented by the Director of Internal Security in his office, Mr Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi, the NSA declared that the primary objective of the various security agencies during the bye-elections remain to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming elections.

He assured that efforts will be made to strengthen collaboration between security and law enforcement agencies to quickly address potential threats and challenges during the elections.

The security component of ICCES, according to him, will, among other things, intensify intelligence efforts to monitor and pre-empt any threats to these elections and provide real-time intelligence to enable.

The NSA said, “Our primary objective remains to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming elections.

“Therefore, we must ensure that eligible voters exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation.

“In this regard, we will strengthen collaboration between security and law enforcement agencies to quickly address potential threats and challenges during the elections.

“Accordingly, the security component of ICCES will, among other things, intensify intelligence efforts to monitor and pre-empt any threats to these elections and provide real-time intelligence to enable the implementation of proactive measures.

“This is especially in States that are infested with recalcitrant subversive non-state actors who could be exploited by desperate politicians to undermine the elections.

“We will also maintain dialogue with the leadership of political parties and candidates to foster understanding and reduce tensions, as engagement with these stakeholders has proven effective in the past and should remain a priority.

“Finally, political actors and their supporters in the affected States and the FCT are warned to conduct themselves with decorum and respect for the democratic process, as any form of electoral violence and malpractices has no place in our elections”, he declared.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu called on the nation’s security agencies to make adequate and proactive arrangements for the protection of personnel and assets to be deployed by the Commission and all stakeholders for these activities.

Yakubu pointed out that there are some specific areas of security concern raised at the recent consultative meetings with Political Parties, Civil Society Organisations and the Media earlier this week.

In the words of Prof Yakubu, “As we plan for the bye-elections, the Anambra State Governorship election and the resumption of the CVR, I call on the security agencies to make adequate and proactive arrangements for the protection of personnel and assets to be deployed by the Commission and all stakeholders for these activities.

“There are some specific areas of security concern raised at our consultative meetings with Political Parties, Civil Society Organisations and the Media earlier this week.

“These concerns will be presented to you for your necessary action at this meeting”, he said.