By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Less than 72 hours to the 2023 general elections, the National Security Council has given its stamp of approval for Nigerian electorates to go out to exercise their civic rights without fear of security risks.
This cheering news was dropped by the country’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), while briefing State House Correspondents shortly after the National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Malami, the Service Chiefs; Inspector General of Police and Heads of the other federal government security agencies as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) made presentations to Council on the 2023 general election and at the end it was agreed that the elections must go on as scheduled.
Said he: the summary and conclusion of all submissions was to the effect that the system is wholeheartedly ready for the conduct of the election and arising there from, the position of the government, the position of the President is to the effect that the election is holding of the 25th day of February, 2023 and Mr. President and the National Security Council are happy with the preparations on the ground and wholehearted arrangements are put in place in that direction.
“So we have been mandated, arising from the conclusions of the Security Council meetings to now brief you accordingly, but the summary of it, the conclusion of it, the resolution of the Council, is to the effect that the elections are holding and there is no going back about it”.
The Minister who was flanked by the IGP Mr. Usman Baba Alkali said: “Distinguished members of the press, as you are all aware, Mr. President has summoned National Security Council meeting and the major focus of the meeting today, on the basis of which deliberations were made, revolves around the election. The 2023 elections that is expected to take place come 25th day of February.
“Before the National Security Council meeting of today, Federal Executive Council meeting had taken place at which meeting Mr. President called the national Chairman of the INEC to brief the Council relating to the preparations of INEC over the election. The Chairman of INEC came around, made comprehensive submission, establishing their preparedness, establishing the fact that they are ready for the conduct of the election.
“Out of further abundance of caution, Mr. President equally caused the holding of the Council of State meeting, in which the INEC Chairman was summoned to now present before the Council the level of their preparedness over the conduct of the elections.
“At that Council of State meeting, the INEC Chairman gave further confirmations, undertakings, presentations of their level of preparedness.
“Now out of desire to further consolidate and appraise the comprehensive and general preparation of the system, relating to the conduct of the election, this meeting, which is third in series of appraising and reviewing the state of preparedness is called upon by the President, which is the National Security Council meeting.
:At the National Security Council meeting, briefings were made by security agencies generally and service chiefs. National Security Adviser made submission; Chief of Defense Staff made one; Chief of Army Staff made submission; Chief of Naval Staff made submission, Chief of Air Staff did; Inspector-General of Police, who incidentally is equally addressing you, made submission; Director-General, State Security Service did; and indeed DG NIA and CDI all made submissions.
“The summary and conclusion of all submissions was to the effect that the system is wholeheartedly ready for the conduct of the election and arising there from, the position of the government, the position of the President is to the effect that the election is holding of the 25th day of February, 2023 and Mr. President and the National Security Council are happy with the preparations on the ground and wholehearted arrangements are put in place in that direction.
“So we have been mandated, arising from the conclusions of the Security Council meetings to now brief you accordingly, but the summary of it, the conclusion of it, the resolution of the Council, is to the effect that the elections are holding and there is no going back about it.
“On this note, I will invite the Inspector-General of Police to address you on the issues associated with the level of security arrangement that are put in place, all establishing the position that the government is already, set and willing and indeed prepared for the conduct of the election, come 25th day of February, 2033”.
Meanwhile, the IGP told journalists that
the meeting specifically, dwelled on the preparedness of all the security agencies and the military towards conducting free, fair and credible elections come 25th of February and that of 11th March, 2023.
Said he: “the Council is satisfied that the Nigerian Police, leading other security agencies and also the members of the armed forces and intelligence community, are all prepared towards providing the umpire, that is INEC, and Nigerians, that is citizens who wants to exercise their franchise the opportunity to go out and exercise their right of voting on that.
“We were able to inform Mr. President that security-wise we’ve been able to … this country in terms of threat analysis in terms of what we expect, what we need to do during, before and after the elections and the military have also pledged their commitment to support the process by providing the needed support at their own level, which requires different kinds of assistance in terms (because they may not be actually policing the election, but they are to ensure that no adversary, by whatever means, comes out to disrupt the process).
“The INEC has also told us that it has everything in its custody, the Chief of Air Staff has confirmed his continuous commitment to making sure that where his assistance is needed, everything that requires his assistance in terms of deployment of materials will be done.
“So also, the Chief of Naval Staff, who’s going to give the same support in the riverine area and we, on our part, are going to provide security like I briefed this press sometime last week that we expect we will be able to cover every polling station in this country with our men and we also expect to provide a motorized patrol to ensure that no adversary comes by any way to disrupt the electoral process”.
