28th October, 2023
By Emmanuel Oloniruha
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa and the Acting Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun have asserted that there would be no room for those planning to perpetrate trouble or violence during the Nov.11 governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
Musa and Egbetokun spoke to journalists at the end of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting held at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Abuja.
The two security chiefs assured residents of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi not to entertain any fear about coming out to exercise their civic duties during the elections.
On his part, Musa pledged that the Armed Forces would provide full support to the police in ensuring that the states election was free and fair.
“The Armed Forces, the police and other security agencies would be on the ground. Every Nigerian, we are sure is tired of elections with violence and this will try to make a difference.
“We want at the end of the day, every Nigerian should be proud of, first to be a Nigerian and to understand that elections are now free and fair.
“We want everybody who wins our elections to be happy that he won very well without any intimidation,’’ he said.
The army chief said that a warning had already been sent to security personnel to be deployed for the elections that whoever misbehaved during the elections would face the consequences.
Musa advised that the presence of security agencies in the three states should not scare anybody, but those with plans to disrupt the election.
Also speaking, Egbetokun said the Police is aware of negative mobilizations by supporters of some of the candidates and are already monitoring them.
“We are ready for them for these elections. I appeal to them to stay away from this election. I also appeal to the electorate to come out en manse to cast their votes during this election. We are committed to peaceful election and no going back,’’ he said.
He said that the security agencies were ready and committed to making the off-cycle elections free and fair.
“We have received all necessary information from INEC which have informed us on where to deploy to during these election.
“We have carried out a threat assessment and that has informed us with respect to the allocation of our resources and the deployment of our men.
“All the security agencies are collaborating strongly to ensure that these elections are violence-free,’’ he said.
He assured that accredited journalists for the election would be protected in the cause of carrying out their duties,’’ Egbetokun said.
The IG also shed more light on why the police planned to hold its annual retreat in Imo, saying the choice of the state was deliberate.
“ Our choice of Owerri is deliberate. it is deliberate because of this election. We want to send a message to the people of Imo that the state is free for this election.
“We want to encourage the voters to come out en mass to take part in this election.
“We are deploying massively for Imo to make sure that the election in the state is free and fair and hitch-free,’’ Egbetokun said.
(NAN)