Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi polls: NSCDC deploys 22,600 personnel

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has directed the deployment of 22,600 officers and men of the Corps in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi States in order to ensure hitch-free, fair, and credible gubernatorial elections scheduled for November 11, 2023.

NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said
The CG charged the personnel with maintaining high ethical standards, discipline, professional conduct, and remaining apolitical.

Audi reiterated the Corps’ commitment to support democratic governance and processes, explaining that the deployment is to provide water-tight security for the electorate, officials, other stakeholders, and sensitive and non-sensitive materials before, during, and after the exercise in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.

He called on residents of the three states to cooperate with the NSCDC and sister agencies while urging them to shun any act capable of thwarting the strategic plans put on the ground for the peaceful conduct of the elections and causing a breach of peace or damage to critical national assets and infrastructure.

The CG warns against any act of thuggery, ballot box snatching, and other acts that could mar the exercise, calling on politicians to caution their supporters as any act of sabotage would not be condoned.

“The Corps made the massive deployment in the affected states where elections are to be held. Our personnel are adequately briefed on how to discharge their duties in synergy with other security agencies and stakeholders”, CG added.

He added, “You must remain neutral on the field to ensure the security of the electorate, other stakeholders, and election officials, and no act of sabotage will be tolerated.”

Continuing, he says, “To have a hitch-free exercise, undercover operatives, Arms Squad, operatives in the Counter-Terrorism, CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Female Special Force, Rapid Response Squad, Crack Squad, and Anti-Vandal Unit are all detailed to prevent any vacuum that saboteurs may leverage to perpetrate any act that could breach the peace in the states”.

Audi urged supporters of different political parties to adhere to the rules of the game set by the electoral umpire and not to indulge in any act that could cause chaos before, during, and after the elections.

He stressed the need for contestants to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship by either accepting the outcome of the scheduled election or seeking redress as provided by the law.

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