• Orders then to crush electoral offenders

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen Mohammed Monguno (retd), has warned that the Federal Government would give maximum support to security agencies involved in  in this weekend’s governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections. to crush all electoral offenders.

This is as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanded improved performance from the various security agencies.

The NSA and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu spoke at a meeting with Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES),yesterday, against the backdrop of criticisms that trailed the performance of security agencies during the February 25 presidential election, especially the aiding and abetting of some thugs to snatch ballot boxes and attacks on voters at polling units.

Monguno, who doubles as ICCES co-chairman, assured that government would give maximum support to security agencies involved in the election to deal with electoral offenders.

He warned political actors to cage their supporters even as he commended the efforts of various political parties and candidates  that participated in the presidential election.

“I want to also urge the same individuals at the state level, to demonstrate the same level of maturity, the same level of discipline by calling their supporters to conduct themselves in a manner that is congruent with the expectations of the larger Nigerian society.

“Of course there are channels for laying complaints and for addressing these complaints for security agencies. I know a lot has been done. I have been talking with the Chief of Defense staff. I have been talking with the Inspector General of Police, who is the head of the lead agency in the process of elections.  So far, so good, we do not envisage anything that is going to be terrible or apocalyptic in terms of the next few days, but that does not mean that we should all do away with a state of readiness.

“We must comply with the rules. We must also allow everyone I have said this so many times to exercise their fundamental rights as citizens of this country. What we do not want to happen is for anybody to preempt, and to take the law into his or her own hands. I want to be very, very clear on this. We are going to give the maximum support to all entities involved in this process.  And we are also calling on political bigwigs, the gladiators to call their lieutenant to order, anybody who is itching to undermine this process should please think again. It is not in his own interest. It is not in the interest of the nation as well.

“Finally, those of us in the security agencies will continue to work around the clock all the crisis centers are open, all the communication systems are also open. And we have been talking with the chairman of INEC. If there is anything that needs to be done anything that needs to be added, my office is always open, ready and available to give that support. Once again, I want to thank each and every one of you. And I hope that Saturday will be a day that will come and go without any incidents,” he said.

Yakubu who commended some of the security agencies for showing professionalism during the last poll, urged stakeholders and their supporters to see  elections as a contest and not war. He advised that politicians and their supporters refrain from acts of violence that may mar the poll or compromise security, observers, media and service providers.

“I wish to express the commission’s appreciation to the security agencies and other members of ICCES for the professionalism of personnel and the generally peaceful conduct of the elections. We look forward to improved performance in the elections holding this weekend,” Yakubu charged.

He said the governorship elections would hold in 28 states, except in the eight states of Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun where there would be off-cycle polls.

He, however, said elections would be conducted in all the 993 state constituencies nationwide.

“Our state offices have made available to the police  being the lead agency in election security, the delimitation details for both the governorship and state assembly elections, including locations of polling units and collation centers. On that basis, we expect a coordinated deployment plan in synergy with other security, intelligence, law enforcement and safety agencies. The commission is encouraged by the directive to state commands by the Inspector General of Police to handle all cases of electoral offences expeditiously. We look forward to receiving the case files. We will immediately set up a legal team to handle such cases in earnest,” he said.