Contrary to speculations in some quarters that the forthcoming general elections may not hold in some parts of the country due to security concerns, the Inspector General of Police(IGP), Usman Alkali Baba on Friday allayed fears and assured that the elections would hold nationwide as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).
The IGP who spoke through the Force Public Relations Officer(FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on a Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers taking place in Owerri, Imo State, declared that the Nigeria Police and other security forces were fully prepared for” free, fair, credible and acceptable polls come 2023.
He, however, cautioned political actors to play by the rules of the game and to stop overheating the system, saying the era of ballots snatching was gone for good in the country based on the various innovation being introduced into the system by the INEC.
He said that the Owerri retreat was being put in place to nap out strategies for the smooth conduct of the polls and would be attended by the Senior Police Officers from the ranks of Commissioners of Police, the Presidential candidates of all the registered political parties and personnel from other sister security forces
According to him, “we are assuming Nigerians and the international community that the 2023 general Elections will hold as planned by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in all the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja, the country is enjoying relative Peace now and we are going to sustain this, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari has promised times without numbers to give the Nation a peaceful free and fair Elections, come 2023.
“The President has been keeping to his words by encouraging us and the security forces towards achieving this, we will have no excuse to fail the Nation, also Nigerians too have been helping the Police and other security agencies with credible information in their localities.
“So there is no course for concern about the general Elections, we are working hard to make the polls a huge success, likewise the INEC is doing the same thing, if your snatch ballot papers or boxes, from one location to another location, you are only wasting your time because with the new arrangements being put in place by the INEC, such electoral materials will not valid in that location you are taking them to, you will be caught by security agents and be made to face the law.
“Arrangements are in top gear to secure the electorates, Electoral officials and citizens, 2023 Elections will be the best in the anal of our dear Country, there is a security threat now and we don’t envisage any in future.
The Police boss explained that the third edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers by Matchmakers Consult International in partnership with the Imo State Government was designed to give the Nation credible polls.
According to him, “this edition, with the theme ‘The Imperative of a Nigeria Police Strategic Plan for Peaceful Elections’, is part of the IGP’s continuing effort to adequately prepare officers and men of the Force to play a more effective and efficient role in the management of security during the General Elections in 2023.was designed on the assumption of office as the 21st Indigenous IGP to bequeath the nation with a policing system that is citizen-centred, technology-based, and whose officers protect with courage and serve with compassion.
“This has led to vital collaborations, riding on the Federal Government’s Police Reform Agenda through the Presidential Police Reform and Transformation Office (PORTO), with various Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society groups to ensure that the goal is achieved, and swiftly, which has birthed several reform processes, some which have reached final stages, some still at intermediate stages, and others which are long-termed, are gradually taking baby steps.
He stated that the force under his leadership had embarked on deliberate measures and policy drives to ensure that election security management was given priority of place with necessary and continuous training and capacity development to ensure the conduct of credible elections in the country.
According to him, “this has paid off considering the successful conduct of the off-season elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states in spite of negative indicators and opinion of most pundits that the elections, particularly that of Anambra, would be characterized by violence. They turned out to be amongst the most peaceful elections ever conducted in the country.
The Police boss disclosed that the opening ceremony of the event would be on Monday 31 October 2022 at the Landmark Event Centre in Owerri. President Muhammadu Buhari would deliver the keynote address.
He added that other dignitaries scheduled to attend the opening ceremony are Senator Hope Uzodinma, the Executive Governor of Imo State, the Minister of Police Affairs and other cabinet members, Senators and Honourable Members of the House of Representatives, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Service Chiefs and heads of security agencies, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chairmen and Presidential Candidates of all political parties, media executives and members of the civil society.
According to him, “it is greatly believed that the conference and retreat will strengthen the resolve of the strategic police managers and members of other security agencies who shall be involved in the 2023 electioneering process to put their best foot forward to accomplish free, fair, credible and secure 2023 general elections that we may all leave a legacy on which basis posterity would adjudge us kindly.”
He urged the press to operate in consonance with the force to ensure free, fair, credible, and even acceptable elections in 2023 and beyond.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then