This is to protect the assets of the electoral body ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The Nigerian Government has deployed personnel from the Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Federal Fire Service to offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission across the country.
This is to protect the assets of the electoral body ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The government also instructed the security agencies to improve intelligence gathering, sharing, and utilisation in order to stop the recent political violence in the country.
This was disclosed by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, during a meeting with the chieftains of 18 political parties at the Force headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, The Punch reports. According to Baba, the police recorded 52 violent cases in six weeks.
The meeting was attended by the Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore; National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, and other party chieftains.
SaharaReporters reported the attacks on the INEC offices in Ogun and Osun states last week. It also reported that the campaign convoy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was attacked in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
In Enugu and Ebonyi states, Labour Party activities and candidates have also been attacked and their campaign materials were damaged.
For instance, in Enugu, campaign billboards of Labour Party governorship candidate, Hon Chijioke Edeoga, especially around New Haven and Ogui junctions were recently destroyed by suspected PDP thugs in the state.
In Kogi, Governor Yahaya Bello has threatened to physically attack or kill members of the opposition parties who stand in his way.
Baba said, “On our part, and as an outcome of the ICCES meeting, the Nigeria Police Force working in collaboration with other security agencies have resolved to enhance intelligence gathering, share and utilise same to stem acts of political violence; upscale the deployment of security teams to all INEC assets and facilities nationwide with teams drawn from the police, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Civil and Security Defence Corps and the Federal Fire Service to take decisive lawful action against purveyors of hate speech, incitement to violence, mobilisation of thugs and other violations, including the prompt arrest, investigation, and prosecution of offenders in line with the provisions of Sections 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.”
The police boss also accused some unnamed governors of sponsoring thugs to incite violence, adding that anyone arrested for political violence will be prosecuted.
He vowed to take a decisive lawful action against purveyors of hate speech, incitement to violence, mobilisation of thugs and other violations, including the prompt arrest, investigation, and prosecution of offenders in line with the provisions of Sections 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.
“This meeting became expedient following a noticeable trend within the national political space which, if not promptly addressed could evolve into a potent threat to not just our national security but the electoral process.
‘’Drawing from the experiences of the past, electoral violence both in the process leading to an election as well as the fallout of elections, has always constituted the most dangerous threat to our democracy.
‘’Political violence manifests in three forms. First is violence that is targeted at the personnel and assets of the Independent National Electoral Commission as recently witnessed in Ogun and Osun states,” he said.