Ribadu: We’ll deploy adequate security for by-elections, ensure peaceful environment

Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), says security agencies are putting measures in place to provide a secure environment for the conduct of by-elections and re-run polls in some parts of the country.

Ribadu spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES) meeting.

He was represented by Hassan Abdullahi, director of internal security in the office of the NSA.

The by-elections arising from the death or resignation of members of the national and state houses of assembly are scheduled to be held on February 3.

Re-run polls that were ordered by tribunals are also fixed to be conducted on the same date.

According to INEC, by-elections will be held in nine states while re-run polls are to be conducted in 39 federal constituencies.

Ribadu said security agencies are also working on measures that would uphold the integrity of the electoral processes.

“The president and commander in chief of the armed forces, as always, posited that ability of security agencies to maintain law and order, protect lives, property and ensure the safety of voters, electoral officials and candidates is fundamental to the integrity of the electoral process,” the NSA said.

“Therefore, in future elections, particularly the forthcoming by-elections and rerun elections, we must prevent and manage election-related violence, intimidation and other security threats so as to uphold the credibility of the process.

“The office of the NSA and security agencies under the platform of ICCES will sustain collaboration with INEC to ensure that elections are conducted in secure and peaceful environment.

“In this regard, the coordination of security operations, deployment of personnel and adoption of proactive security measures will be paramount.”

The NSA said in addition to proactive communication plans, measures are also in place for the transparent handling of security-related issues in shaping public confidence, and perception in ICCES and agencies involved.

“Accordingly, we will ensure a strategic approach to post-election security through contingency planning and rapid response capabilities,” he said.

On his part, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said the police as a lead agency in election management, would be providing security alongside other security agencies for the elections.

Egbetokun said the police are aware of the challenges associated with the conduct of isolated elections.

“I want to assure Nigerians that we are on top of the situation. We have conducted threat analysis in all 26 states where elections will take place and we are going to deploy according to the assessments,” he said.

“We are also going to deploy adequately and massively for this election, just like we did in the last elections in the Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi.”