Why we must provide security for 2019 general election

It is gladdening to note the commitment of the Federal Government towards the provision of adequate security for the success of the 2019 general election. The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, recently revealed that the National Security Council is ready to curb every challenge during the forthcoming 2019 general election. Dan-Ali who made the revelation shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the National Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, said it recommended the deployment of security agencies to the states, to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conduct the elections peacefully.

ALSO READ: FULL TEXT: President Buhari’s remarks at receipt of national minimum wage report

The minister was hopeful that the deployment of security personnel would further douse the tension created by the outcome of the political parties’ primaries and some desperate persons to sabotage the electoral process.

Meanwhile, the federal legislators have also approved expenditures for security agencies towards the success of the election. The senate recently approved the security budget of N53.2 billion for the 2019 general election. The approval of the budget followed a presentation of the report of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Appropriation at plenary. The House of Representatives also approved N831.3bn virement for INEC and security agencies. With all these encouraging developments from the executive and legislative arms of government, should there be any fear on the preparation for the 2019 general election?

Some politicians have raised concern and expressed doubt on INEC’s ability to conduct credible polls in 2019. Leading the critics, the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the Federal Government of being unable to conduct credible polls across the country next year. The PDP chairman, Uche Secondus, said the party does not have confidence in the activities of INEC.

Secondus said that what happened during the governorship election in Osun State in September merely underscored the party’s fears that INEC was not ready to be neutral in 2019. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his commitment to ensuring free, fair and credible elections in the country.

Given the foregoing, some pressing questions are bound to be asked by many concerned Nigerians. What can be done to ensure that the 2019 generally election is conducted peacefully? How do we ensure that political campaigns do not spiral out of control? And what can be done to ease the task of INEC in conducting free and credible elections? How can the security agencies stay out of the political fray by not acting in a manner that suggests their men are out to rig the election for the party in power?

The various security agencies must be up to their task. They must resist the temptation to be political and move away from any infraction that may run counter to their professional ethics. Election periods should not be moments of bloodletting. We cannot afford this. We must allow our democracy to work; this is important and all-encompassing.

Zayyan U. Gwandu, Abuja