Anambra gov’ship poll: Massive deployment of security not to intimidate citizens – IGP

*Says ‘We’ve made water-tight security arrangements’

*US threatens visa ban on electoral offenders

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has said that the massive deployment of security for the Saturday Anambra governorship election was not to intimidate law-abiding citizens.

Baba, who said the clarification became necessary to counter the rumours being insinuated in some quarters, said the deployment was to assure residents of their lives and security.

The IGP spoke at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders meeting on Anambra State governorship election in Awka on Wednesday.

He said that it was to reassure the people of adequate protection by deterring misguided political elements as well as non-state actors bent on threatening the elections through acts of armed violence or other conducts that violate the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Baba assured all “ndi Anambra” that security agencies were fully conscious of the threat by elements threatening to disrupt the electoral process.

The IGP explained that an election security management action plan that would engender effective coordination among INEC, the Nigeria Police, Military and personnel of other security agencies towards delivering a peaceful and credible election was in place.

“Aside the optimal deployment of our intelligence assets to proactively frustrate any threat to the elections, we have also deployed a total of 34,587 Police personnel for the purpose of protecting the personnel and assets of INEC, the electorates, and residents of Anambra State during the exercise.

“This figure will be complemented by the Military and other security and intelligence agencies.

“Our election security is designed such that all the three senatorial districts, 21 Local Government Areas, 326 Wards and 5,720 Polling Units across the State will witness adequate security coverage,” Baba said.

He added that the massive deployment was to also serve as a strong warning that government was determined to bring such subversive characters to justice should they advance their ignoble, undemocratic and unpatriotic intentions.

“The overriding objective of our operational action plan is to ensure an environment that is peaceful enough to encourage the law-abiding people of Anambra State to exercise their electoral franchise.

“The message here is clear. For the political actors and electorates that are law abiding, they are fully assured of optimal security.

“However, for the destabilising elements and other deviants who despite all wise counsels are determined to deploy violence and other illegal means to advance their political interests or constitute a clog in the wheel of peaceful atmosphere for the election.

“They should be prepared for the consequences of their actions as they will be identified, isolated and decisively dealt with irrespective of their status, ideological inclinations or political affiliation.”

Baba assured all the people of Anambra State, Nigerians and the international community of security agencies firm commitment to support INEC in delivering a free, fair, credible and successful election in the State.

“I also wish to assure that the personnel of the Nigeria Police, as the lead agency in election security management, shall remain impartial, firm, accountable and professional in the exercise of their statutory duties as provided for in the Electoral Act and other enabling laws.”

Baba added that all the security personnel to be deployed for the election were under instructions to be guided by the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Personnel on Electoral Duty as developed jointly by INEC and security agencies.

He added that all security agents were fully conscious of the fact that they were under an obligation to perform their functions within rule of law and civil dictates.

The IGP warned that they could be held accountable for any conduct that negated the dictates of the Code of Conduct.

He, however, said that the success of the electoral process was fundamentally dependent on the extent of national passion and responsibility that all the strategic political actors seated here today can exhibit.

“It is also dependent on their commitment to cooperating and supporting INEC and the security agencies towards advancing our democratic values.

“National security interests override personal or group considerations.

“Accordingly, while soliciting your support, we must draw your attention to the charge of President Muhammadu Buhari that nobody or any group of persons should be allowed to use Anambra State as a staging ground to derail our democracy.”

The IGP said that in as much as security agencies would be professional, they would leave no one in doubt of their determination to give maximum effect to Mr President’s charge.

He called on all the political parties to embrace the virtues of democracy by seeing elections as a call to service by the people and not ‘a-do or die’ affair.

He urged parents and guardians to counsel their children and wards to resist the unprofitable urge of being recruited, brainwashed and deployed to disrupt the election process.

He said that such would be forcefully resisted by the Nigeria Police, the Military and other security agencies.

He warned that no one was allowed to wear any cloth, emblem or colour signifying any political party to the polling units on election day.

“No person is allowed to move around with security details around the polling units.

“Indeed, appropriate directives have been given for the withdrawal or scaling down of such security details around politically exposed persons and other personalities in the State until after the elections.

“Everyone is enjoined to vote and return to their respective houses or remain peacefully within approved perimeters of the polling centres.

“No one is allowed to move about from one polling unit to another as there shall be restriction of movements on the election day.

“Only INEC accredited Election Monitors/observers are allowed to move around for the purpose of election monitoring and they must all wear their INEC accreditation tags.

“Only accredited journalists are allowed to cover the election. Such journalists must carry their accreditation tags.

“Praise singing, drumming and dancing around the vicinity of polling units are not allowed.

“Vehicles branded in any political party colour or emblems are not allowed to be deployed on any election assignment.

“Selling of alcohol beverages around the polling booths and collation centres is totally banned,” he warned.

Baba further warned that any person that violated any components of the Criminal Laws, before, during and after the elections shall be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the requisite criminal law.

These according to him include, being in possession of weapons of violence of any description either on the streets or around the polling units, engage in any violent act, attack critical national assets, engage in corrupt inducement of the electorates, or threaten public peace in any manner.

The IGP also at the meeting on Wednesday that said security arrangement for the conduct of the Saturday governorship election in Anambra covered land, sea and air.

He said that 63 units of Mobile Police Force patrol teams had been deployed to check the entrance and exist points across the state.

The police boss said that all the arms of the military, including the Navy, Airforce, Army and other paramilitary agencies were involved.

“We have enough helicopters, speed boats and vehicles for security operatives to man the entire state,” he said.

Alkali said that security operatives had identified all the flash points and made adequate preparations.

He explained that the tight security measures were to guard against the report that a group in the state had planned to disrupt the election.

The IGP, while responding to a question, said that all the security operatives involved in the election had been advised on the need to be civil.

“We have advised all the operatives deployed for the election to be civil because they are not the only organisation working during the exercise.

“The instruction is clear to them that anybody accredited by INEC must be allowed to perform his or her duties without hiccup from the security operatives,” he said.

The National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mohmood Yakubu, said that the commission was fully prepared for the election.

He urged all the staff of the commission to abide by the rules of electoral conduct.

Yakubu who described INEC workers as very strategic in the success of the election, warned that any body found scuttling the process would be made to face the law.

Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese and a member of National Peace Committee on Electoral Matters, said he was impressed with the level of security presence in Anambra.

Kukah told journalists on the sideline of the meeting that anyone who did not participate in the Saturday election should not attribute it to poor security arrangement.

“I encourage any electorate with the INEC voters’ card in the state to feel free and come out for the election,” he said.

The cleric said with the signing of a peace accord by the governorship candidates on Thursday, they would be held responsible for any violence coming from any political party.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Anambra State gubernatorial election on Saturday, the United States (US) has threatened sanctions, including visa restrictions on anyone who interferes with the democratic process or instigates violence against civilian populations before, during, or after the elections.

This warning was contained in a statement on Wednesday by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria.

According to the brief communique, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on relatives of the electoral offenders and the families of those who may instigate violence at the polls.

“We will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere with the democratic process or instigate violence against civilian populations before, during, or after the elections.

“We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process.

“Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations also may lead to restrictions on family members,” the statement partly read.

The US government, however, noted that it is anticipating a free and fair election that will be peaceful with results that accurately reflect the will of the Anambra residents.

Citizens, electoral officials, party members, and security force personnel were all urged by the American government to play their part in ensuring a credible and secure electoral process.