Author: Gist Correspondent

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has warned political actors, vote buyers and individuals inclined to violence to desist from any actions capable of disrupting the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections and the by-elections scheduled for Rivers and Kano states.

Ribadu issued the warning on Friday in Abuja during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the February 21 polls.

Speaking through the Director of Internal Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Hassan Abdullahi, the NSA said security agencies would take proactive measures to identify and neutralise political thugs, violent actors and those involved in vote buying before, during and after the elections.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Police Force, as the lead agency for election security, in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies, had begun mobilising personnel and resources to prevent any disruption of the electoral process.

“Accordingly, adequate security personnel will be deployed to polling units and identified high-risk electoral wards. Political thugs and politicians with violent dispositions will be identified and reprimanded or restrained, while vote buyers will be traced and apprehended,” Ribadu said.

The NSA urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly and respect the sanctity of the democratic process, warning that violations of electoral laws would attract severe sanctions.

He also called on the media, civil society organisations, community leaders and citizens to work collectively to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.

Ribadu commended INEC for the successful conduct of the Anambra governorship election and praised security agencies for maintaining law and order during the exercise, noting that the peaceful outcome reflected President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to free, fair and violence-free elections.

According to him, the Anambra experience provides a positive benchmark as the nation prepares for the FCT Area Council polls, by-elections in Rivers and Kano, off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti on June 20 and Osun on August 8, as well as the 2027 general elections and ongoing voter registration.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by CP Abayomi Shogunle, assured Nigerians of robust security deployment to guarantee peaceful polls. He said the police would provide round-the-clock protection for INEC facilities and personnel nationwide.

Earlier, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, called on security agencies to strengthen planning, intelligence gathering, deployment and inter-agency collaboration to ensure hitch-free elections in the FCT, Rivers and Kano states.