2023 Polls: Security Agencies Dispel Postponement Rumour.

In the final days to the commencement of this year’s general elections,  the nation’s security agencies have dismissed any suggestion of putting off the exercise, declaring that they are ready to guarantee peaceful polls in the country.

The chief of defence staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabo, yesterday reassured Nigerians that the armed forces and other security agencies were ready to provide a safe and secure environment for the 2023 general elections.

Irabor gave the assurance while briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting with service chiefs and heads of security agencies yesterday in Abuja.

He also warned those that intend to cause trouble during the elections to have a rethink “because they will have a bloody nose”.

Irabor held a closed-door meeting with the service chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force, Inspector-General of Police, directors-generals of the Department of State Services and National Intelligence Agency, as well as the chief of Dsefence Intelligence.

He said the purpose of the meeting was to review the election security and develop action plans to ensure that the elections hold under a peaceful atmosphere.

“So, by and large, we are good to go and I like to use the opportunity to assure Nigerians that on the security front we are good to go on all fronts,” he said.

Irabor also gave assurance that the security agencies were also ready to ensure that every part of the country would have peaceful elections, and that Nigerians exercise their franchise.

He added that contingency actions had been taken to address the areas with peculiar security challenges.

Commonwealth Observers Task INEC, Candidates On Credible Elections

Ahead of this weekend’s general elections, the chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Nigeria, Thabo Mbeki, has stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to conduct a peaceful and inclusive election in Nigeria.

The former president of South Africa also urged the country’s political parties, candidates, and their supporters to play their part in ensuring peaceful, transparent, and credible elections on Saturday.

Mbeki, who made the comments yesterday in Abuja, while speaking during a courtesy visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the arrival of Commonwealth observers in Nigeria, noted that they came very hopeful and very confident that Nigeria will have successful elections.

“We are hopeful that there will be no complaints. In good measure that depends on yourself as a person, the honourable members of INEC, and many other people around the country that constitute your team, a very sizeable team of people.”

Mbeki said that understanding INEC as observers was important because, in the end, they will make a statement about the elections. More important, according to him, is that the Commonwealth would make recommendations about whatever they think, in terms of the elections.

Therefore, Mbeki said having a comprehensive and accurate picture as possible about the election is important, and INEC being a central player in that process is very critical.