The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Anambra State Command Mr Isidore Chikere has charged his officers to be extremely apolitical, avoid high-handedness, treat all electorates with fairness and respect their fundamental human rights before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
Mr Chikere made the statement during his opening remark at the commencement of training for its officers and men in ensuring free, fair and credible polls in the forthcoming elections.
He admonished the officers to be firm, and exhibit professionalism in discharging their duties by ensuring that voters, candidates, poll workers, observers, and other actors involved in an election experience the process free from fear or harm in addition to protecting both INEC sensitive and non-sensitive election materials.
The Commandant reiterated the commitment of the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi to sustaining the core values of democracy in the country through fair, free and credible elections.
According to him, since the atmosphere is usually politically charged, the Command has also continued its statutory sensitizations and lectures for its officers and men to be well informed and conversant with their duties to the members of the public, most importantly during the elections.
The state NSCDC boss further tasked the Area Commanders as well as Divisional Officers (DOs) to cascade the lecture and training to their respective personnel and strictly adhere to the security agency’s code of conduct while also helping to protect and preserve democracy.
Meanwhile, with the appropriate mechanism already in place, the command is using this medium to appeal to the general public to stay clear of any acts capable of causing a breach of peace and other laws of the federation as enshrined in the constitution, with a warning that those caught will be made to face the consequences of their actions.
The training which drew participants from the Command’s Management Team, Area Commanders, Divisional Officers and Operational Staff of the Command held at the Command Headquarters Awka, Anambra state is aimed at equipping personnel on the complexness of election conduct, general knowledge of what constitutes electoral offences, and strategies to defeat those who plan to constitute a clog in the wheel of the electoral progress of the country.
Emmanuel Ukoh
