For the February 21 FCT area council elections and by-elections in Rivers and Kano States, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on security services to step up their planning, deployment, intelligence collection, and interagency coordination.
The request was made by INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan during his remarks at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting on Friday at the commission’s Abuja headquarters.
Amupitan stated that in order to guarantee that every election action was carried out in a secure, tranquil, and trustworthy setting, early preparation and intelligence collection were crucial.
“We turn to the security authorities to ensure rigorous enforcement of the law, limit the employment of thugs, curb vote buying, and guarantee the protection of voters and election officials on election day as campaigns come to an end on Thursday, February 19.
Effective security cooperation, however, cannot be replaced by administrative preparedness.
He urged all agencies to always be professional, communicate frequently, and have quick response plans, especially during times of crisis.
Despite previous experiences in the state, Amupitan pointed out that the professionalism and commitment of security services not only created a peaceful atmosphere for the recent off-cycle gubernatorial election in Anambra, but a winner was also announced on the first vote.
In order to avoid unnecessary problems and ensure a peaceful exercise, he asked security agencies to continue providing the same level of professionalism and sufficient security during the next elections.
The necessity of increased vigilance, sufficient manpower deployment, and smooth interagency collaboration is further reinforced by holding several polls concurrently in many states, he said.
For the next governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States as well as the general elections in 2027, the INEC chairman also urged early and ongoing security engagement, arguing that elections could not be legitimate if voters felt insecure casting ballots.
In order to better purify the national register in preparation for 2027, he stated that INEC would shortly start a nationwide voter revalidation campaign.
Security assistance will be needed for this exercise as well as the continuing, continuous voter registration process to safeguard buildings, staff, and residents, particularly in areas that are prone to disturbances.
“When institutions cooperate, elections are successful. INEC will continue to depend on your impartiality, professionalism, and dedication to your work.
“Your capacity to secure the electoral process from beginning to conclusion is crucial to the legitimacy of our elections and, in fact, our democracy.
“As we navigate this challenging election year, let’s continue to be alert, proactive, and purpose-driven,” Amupitan stated.
