Off-cycle polls: Nigerians tired of electoral violence — we’ll make a difference, says CDS

Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), says security agencies will be deployed to ensure the off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi are free and fair.

Musa spoke on Friday after a meeting of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES) in Abuja.

He said Nigerians are “tired of elections with violence” and security operatives will be on the ground to “make a difference”.

“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,” Musa said.

“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.”

Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police, said there would be no room to perpetrate trouble or violence during the off-cycle elections.

The gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states are billed to take place on November 11.

The IGP appealed to the electorate to come out to cast their vote on the day of the election.

“We are aware of negative mobilisations by some supporters of some candidates and we are already monitoring them. We are ready for them for these elections. I appeal to them to stay away from this election,” he said.

“I also appeal to the electorate to come out en masse to cast their votes during this election. We are committed to peaceful election and no going back.”

He said that the security agencies are ready and committed to making the off-cycle elections free and fair.

“We have received all necessary information from INEC which has informed us on where to deploy to during these elections,” the IGP said.

He also assured that accredited journalists for the election would be protected.