A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has said adequate and improved security are critical to the success of the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
Towards this end, he charged the Federal Government to improve on the provision of effective security to guarantee peaceful conduct of the 2023 polls, saying “unless there is adequate and impartial security, the election results and integrity may be compromised.”
Jega was a lead speaker at the 4th Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable and Ajimobi’s 72nd posthumous birthday held at the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan (UI) in Ibadan on Thursday.
According to him, “our transition from one civilian government to the other is bedevilled by security challenges. Unless elections are conducted in a peaceful environment, the integrity of the election would be questioned.
“Security challenges undermine the integrity of elections. Security is therefore a necessity for good governance. Although, general elections have been held six times since the nation return to democratic rule in 1999, the security challenges have been persistent.
“There are already fears that security challenges may affect the peaceful conduct of the 2023 elections. Countries that are democratic like Nigeria since 1999 must constantly seek to improve the credibility and integrity of their elections.
“We have to secure election process to enable citizens to come out and register without fear of threats, intimidation and attacks. Election materials should also be secured to avoid diversion. We must ensure the compilation and declaration of election results are not manipulated. The role of security agencies must be clearly defined to promote synergy.
“Basically, leading to 2023 elections, we need to improve the provision of security. Adequacy of security provision in elections goes a long way to ensure that elections are conducted with integrity. All security agencies can be involved. What is most important is to carefully define the role that each security agency can play and to also ensure that they play it impartially.
“This is because the tendencies that some of them had in the past was to think their role is to protect a regime or government rather than to ensure the protection of national security. If we can get the leaders of security agencies to know that their job is to ensure peaceful conduct of elections regardless of whoever is in government, the better for our nation.”
Also speaking at the event, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, noted that the posthumous birthday of late Ajimobi was a remarkable one, stressing that “Ajimobi was a national bridge builder, whose sense of humour would be greatly missed.”
He, however, maintained that “as a government, we would secure the coming elections to ensure active participation of all stakeholders.”
Earlier in her remarks, the president of Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation, Dr (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi said the theme of this year event “Election Security and Good Governance” seeks to examine the machinery of realising of citizens and aspirants for the attainment of realistic and sustainable governance.
The event was also graced by Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Sunday Dare; Chief Bisi Akande and Governor of Osun State, Mr Gboyega Oyetola who were both were represented by the deputy governor of Osun State, Mr Benedict Alabi; the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu who was represented by Senator Ayo Adeseun, among other dignitaries.
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