Elections will hold in south-east in 2023, IGP assures residents

Usman Baba, the inspector-general of police, has assured residents of the south-east that elections will be held in the geopolitical zone in 2023.

Baba gave the assurance on Saturday at the opening of the ‘South-East 2023 Elections Security Management Workshop’ in Enugu.

The IGP, who was represented by AIG Isaac Akinmoyede, said the force is working towards building robust synergy with other security agencies to ensure that the 2023 elections are “very peaceful”.

“We are brainstorming together to fashion out ways to deal with existing and emerging security threats headlong within the south-east,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“It is clear that with robust synergy, cooperation and joint operations, this area will be the most peaceful and our people will surely come out to exercise their civic responsibility.

“We are working relentlessly on the goal of ensuring that election holds in the south-east and people’s votes are secured and it will definitely count.”

The assurance is coming amid threats by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that elections will not hold in the zone.

Solomon Arase, a former IGP, said the workshop was aimed at preparing security agencies and formations in the south-east for the polls.

“Security agencies have gathered here on how to study trends and patterns of crimes before and during elections and how to effectively deal with it in a holistic and collaborative manner,” he said.

Also speaking, Abubakar Lawal, the Enugu commissioner of police, said south-easterners will have the opportunity to perform their franchise, urging them not to “entertain any fear”.