Electoral Violence: Civil Society Wants Synergy Amongst Security Agencies
The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has called for synergy amongst security agencies in order to guard against breakdown of law and order during and after the general elections.
The Executive Director of the election observer group, Ms Faith Nwadishi, made the call in Abuja at the North-central stakeholders meeting in preparation toward the 2023 general elections.
“Security is a critical aspect of the electoral process that requires attention. Security agencies should up their game in ensuring safety of lives during and after the entire electoral process.
“INEC has recently raised an alarm indicating that insecurity may stall the 2023 elections. Citizens too have had cause to worry over the ugly and alarming trend of burning INEC offices and materials in recent times.
“This dangerous and criminal act, if unchecked, could pose a grave danger to the 2023 general elections.
“All men and women of goodwill should condemn these senseless attacks while joining hands to quench this ugly trend.
“We expect better synergy between the police, the lead security agency, on election security and other members of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCESS) with stakeholders on election,” she said.
Nwadishi further said that agencies are to share important information with other stakeholders especially on flash points.
The executive director urged the electorate to say no to money politics, all forms of inducement and money laundering associated with politics and elections.
“Citizens’ choices must never be subverted by the negative use of money, to influence votes including the criminal purchases of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by politicians. We recognize clearly that the symbolic presence of law enforcement agents, at polling units on election has not deterred vote buying. It is, therefore, important that a more result-oriented method like covert operations be adopted to curb this menace,” she added.
The representatives of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) were in attendance at the event.
NAN/ Foluke Ibitomi
