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Tag: adequate security

  • IG assures INEC of adequate security during polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  yesterday got an assurance from Inspector-General (IG) Mohammed Adamu of adequate security before, during and after the forthcoming elections, it was learnt.

    Adamu gave the assurance when he briefed the Commission and sister organisations at the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the IG assured that adequate arrangements were in place to guard all polling units and voting points by at least three security personnel with the police taking the lead.

    He said that units of mobile policemen will be deployed to patrol all the country’s senatorial districts to check unauthorised movements and potential trouble makers.

    He said: “The location of the RACs (Registration Area Centres), polling units, voting points and collation centres will be adequately manned. There will be at least three security personnel at each polling unit. Units of mobile policemen will be deployed to every senatorial district, where there will be constant patrols to check unauthorised movements and those who might want to cause trouble.

    “We are deploying three days before the election and after the election, we will remain behind for the next two days. All security personnel will remain behind after voting had taken place and they will accompany election officials as they move the results.

    “From the ward collation centre, they will move to the local government collation centre where they will meet other security personnel already stationed there. From there, they will all move to state collation centre. So, as they are moving, the number of security personnel keeps increasing up to the state collation centre.”

    According to him, the Federal Government has provided the police with the required resources to carry out its duties during the general elections.

    “The government has already paid the allowances of the personnel and every policeman will get his allowance before he moves to the field. The government has also provided us with the means of getting transportation.”

    Mr. Adamu stated that the police had already carried out series of in-house trainings, based on the rules of engagement designed by INEC.

    INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu commended the new police chief’s willingness to partner with the Commission for the successful conduct of the polls.

    Participants at the meeting include: INEC National Commissioners, the National Security Adviser Gen. Babagana Mungoro, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. Muhammed Babandede, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi

  • 2019: We need adequate security to conduct successful election, says INEC

    IT will be difficult to have peaceful and successful elections without adequate security, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.

    INEC National Commissioner Dr. Mustapha Lecky stated this while representing the commission’s chairman and chairman of the Board of The Electoral Institute (TEI), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at electoral security training workshop organised by the institute for state training officers in Abuja.

    He insisted that security remains a major concern for a massive process like election, adding that for there to be peaceful and credible election, the country need a secured environment that will give the people pleasant experience.

    “Security always remains a concern for a massive process like the election which is coming up next year. Without adequate security, you won’t have a peaceful environment for people to exercise their franchise. So, security is sine-qua-non. It is very important. It underscores why we holds the workshop for our state trainers, who will go back and engage at different levels with Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and their teams to understand the terms of engagement.

    “For a peaceful and credible election, we need to secure environment for people to have a very happy and pleasant experience,” he said.

    Lecky, who admitted that there were challenges in a number of places, assured the country that the government is doing all possible to address the situation.

    He said: “We know there are challenges in a number of places across the country. We believe the government is doing whatever it can to ensure that it is addressed. INEC is not a security outfit. We can only work with the security agencies to ensure that the right thing is done. Nigeria is a very hopeful country. So, we believe that the atmosphere will be secured for credible elections come 2019.”

    The workshop, he said, was aimed at securing elections.

    Addressing the participants, the INEC National Commissioner said: “This is a very important aspect of our election because without a secure election, we will not have free, fair and credible exercise. Security plays a critical role in delivering secured election. The outcome of your performance in the cause of the training will have impact at the other levels.

    “The quality of the training and the quality of delivery will impact on the quality and understanding of security officers whom we call upon to secure our elections.

    “It is important that we have the right messages so that it can guide and refresh our security personnel on the conduct and behaviour require to secure our elections in this country. The commission is very pleased that you are here and has high expectation because of critical factor in achieving free and fair elections in 2019.  You role is very important.

    “You will go back and impart what you have learnt in our security agencies – be it the police, the army and all arms of security involved in elections – to ensure they have true clarity and understand of the rule of engagements to provide a very pleasant election experience for electorate.”

     

  • Ikpeazu assures residents of adequate security

    Ikpeazu assures residents of adequate security

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has vowed to  checkmate criminals in the state.

    Speaking in Umuahia, the state capital, when he received a delegation of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) at the Government House, Ikpeazu said there was no cause for alarm and urged the people to be vigilant.

    Ikpeazu recalled that the state had a peaceful yuletide while kidnapping and violent crime started by mid January. He noted that crime as a social problem could not be entirely wiped out.

    The governor attributed the increase in crime to the protests by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), which he said is usually infiltrated by hoodlums who hide under the protest to perpetrate crime.

    He assured the delegation that something was being done to check multiple taxation and that his administration will soon embark on de-silting of drains in Aba, in readiness for the rainy season.

    ACCIMA’s President Sir Emmanuel Nwagbadolo complained of the disorder that has characterised Aba, including ritual murder, kidnapping and incessant touting, noting that three individuals died from ritual killing in the last three weeks.

    Nwagbadolo called on the government to nip the problems in the bud as they tend to discredit his government, recommending that all forms of touting, multiple taxation and kidnapping be checked by the government.

  • Kogi PDP calls for adequate security for party primaries

    Youth in Kogi state have called on security agencies to provide adequate security in the state head of the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries.

    The party congress comes up today.

    The youth under the umbrella body, PDP National Youth Coalition urged the security agencies to lookout for people who are ready to foment trouble.

    The PDP kogi state delegates is scheduled for Thursday Sept 3. while the gubernatorial primary scheduled for Sept 10.

    Governorship election has been slated for November 21st 2015.

    Mr Eleojo Ameh and Iselewa James the Coalition’s National Coordinator and Secretary, respectively,in statement issued in Abuja yesterday urged the security agencies to be on the lookout for people ready to foment trouble before, during and after the delegates election and the gubernatorial election.

    The group argued that the call became necessary in view of the information reaching the coalition.

    It stated that from information reaching it, some unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements loyal to one of the party’s aspirants want to scuttle the process of the congress and primary election in the state.

    The statement reads in part: “Our source revealed to us that these elements sponsored by the aspirant have perfected plans and arrangement of how to undermine both the security and the process of the delegates’ election across the 21 LGAs.

    “They want to subsequently scuttle the process of the state gubernatorial primary election.

    “The intention of their sponsors is predicated on the fact that they have accepted defeat in the congress and would rather destroy the process in order to pave way for the APC candidate to emerge.

    “It is upon this background that we wish to bring the attention of the leadership of our Party Peoples Democratic Party to this dangerous and satanic act of this individual as we journey to election.

    “We also call on security agencies particularly in Kogi state to be watchful and be on the outlook for who are ready to foment trouble before, during and after the delegates’ election and the gubernatorial election.”

    The coalition also call on party members and would be delegates not to be deterred or disturb by the antics of these anti party agents.

    It stated that the coalition had unequivocally and unanimously endorse the candidature of Capt. Idris Wada as the best candidate for the job.

    “Wada has redefined governance and refocus the attention and thinking of the people of Kogi state towards a more productive and progressive activities.

    “He represent the tripod upon which unity of Kogi is seated hence his continuity will further guarantee peaceful coexistence, development and growth of the state.