… assures of protection Police protection.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba has outlawed the deployment of Amotekun, the South West security outfit and other state or regional owned security outfits in the 2023 general elections.
This is as the IG insisted that they have no statutory roles to play in the process.
Alkali Baba spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the signing of the Peace Accord by the 18 Chairmen of Political Parties and their Presidential candidates.
The initiative was lit together by the National Peace Committee headed by former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
He therefore assured electorates and the entire nation that the police and other sister agencies will provide the necessary security for the elections.
He said, “On our path as the lead agency in the election security process, i assure all political parties, the citizens and the international community of our firm determination to synergize with INEC leadership’s of all political parties at all levels, civil society organizations, the military intelligence community, and other security agencies and all other strategic stakeholders in guaranteeing a peaceful electioneering campaign engagement by all political parties towards delivering a credible 2023 general election.
In furtherance of this, we have commenced a set of actions to sensitize the political class on conduct that will pitch them against the law as the electioneering campaign commences.
“These include issuing a public statement affirming that all quasi pseudo sub national security outfits are banned from electoral space, as they have no statutory roles to play in the process.
” Any attempt therefore, by any political actor, at any level to form or deploy such an outfit to advance partisan interests will amount to an offense punishable under the electoral act.
“The Nigeria police shall perform its statutory mandate of imposing the law by bringing such persons or any other person whose act violates the electoral law to justice.
“In this regard, I have already directed all the commissioners of police across the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT to meet with the leadership of all political parties and the resident electoral commissioners in their states towards mutually involving the campaign schedules in a manner that will address possible cross party conflicts in terms of date, time and venue. I assure you that a level playing field and adequate security will be provided to all political parties during the campaign.”
The IG also appealed to all the political parties and candidates to cooperate with the police so as to ensure smooth and peaceful elections.
“I however, wish to specifically appeal to all political parties to cooperate with the Nigeria police and other security agencies in this process in our general stride to ensure a peaceful electioneering campaign across the country.”
Also, the Head of the European Commission to Nigeria and West Africa, Ambassador Samuela Isopi stressing the importance of Nigeria in the subregion and the continent, said that Nigeria elections do matter.
This, she said, explained that Nigeria must take the lead to halt the incursion of the military in governance in the subregion.
She said, “As we move towards 2023 general elections, Nigeria will continue to take new and decisive steps to see a further consolidation of democracy to peaceful, inclusive, credible and transparent elections.
“As the largest democracy in Africa, Nigeria, elections do matter, and not only for Nigeria. Nigeria’s election will also be about the future of democracy in West Africa and the continent.
“This is why it is so important Nigeria has an opportunity to contribute to reversing the trend of undemocratic change of power through its leadership, and consolidate democracy in the region and beyond.”
She therefore reminded the candidates and party leaders of their role in ensuring peaceful and issue based campaigns.
“As leaders of political parties and presidential candidates, you have a vital role to play in ensuring peaceful elections in engaging in peaceful and issue based campaigns in taking a firm stance against violence. Against Hate speech against misinformation and fake news.
“As you will know, in politics, words do count and as political leaders, you are role models, for your candidates, for your supporters, for voters. And for citizens.”
While commending the National Peace Committee for facilitating the peace accord 2015 and 2019, Isopi said that the “Peace Accords, facilitated by the National Peace Committee played a vital role.”
She therefore welcomed the commitments taken by the candidates and party leaders, adding that ” All stakeholders have a role to play, INEC. We should all lend our support to respect the fundamental and independent role of INEC.
INEC, she also charged “should be allowed to operate free from outside pressure. And you return for the trust increasingly placed in them to demonstrate neutrality and professionalism, guarding jealousy, that independence and delivering an effective and efficient process.”
She also charged the security agencies on the need to be neutral in fulfilling their critical role of guaranteeing safety.
The envoy charged the media to also be transparent as watchdogs.
She also said, “As for the international community, and for the European Union, and its member states in particular, will wish to reiterate our commitment and our support, but also to stress our impartiality. We are not here to support any particular party or any particular candidate. We are here at your invitation to support the process through international expertise, independent observation and support for key institutions.
“We are committed to continue supporting the consolidation of the democratic process in Nigeria with our technical support, sharing of experience and good practices and political engagement,” she said.
The Convener, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah noted that despite the anxieties and the fears, that by the grace of God, elections will be free, fair and credible.
He however said recent activities of political actors does not commensurate with the efforts being made by INEC to improve the country’s electoral process, especially as it concerns vote buying, which according to him is capable of undermining the electoral process.
He warned politicians and political parties against playing on the intelligence of poor Nigerians.
He said, “INEC is making tremendous progress. We are witnessing activities by political actors that don’t do justice. To the process. That is the unacceptable level of vote buying. Now we are aware of the capacity of this process to undermine the entire project of democracy. Yes, Nigerians. are poor. Yes, Nigerians are suffering. But none of that is a substitute.
“And politicians must not exploit the weaknesses of our people in a manner that has made it part of our culture.”
He was of the hope that the newly introduced laws would be able to tame the menace.
“We hope that with the penalties already spelled out by the chairman of INEC in his speech and the IG, that those who compromised the process, will face the wrath of the law.”
