National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno says federal forces will not allow any group or persons to impede smooth conduct of the forthcoming Anambra o, or any other, elections in the country.

Mr Monguno stated this on Thursday at the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

“With the prevalence of security threats occasioned by different dissident separatist groups in the southern region of the country, who are bent on scuttling efforts of the government in achieving national cohesion and undermining the democratic processes in the country,” Mr Monguno, represented by Sanusi Galadima said. “The federal government of Nigeria will not tolerate any group or persons planning to impede smooth conduct of elections.”

Operatives of the Indigenous People of Biafra have been warning that no election would be allowed to hold in Igboland until their leader Nnamdi Kanu, who is in State Security Services custody is released.

Many facilities of the electoral umpire across South-East have also been destroyed by arsonists in the recent past.

The security adviser said though Nigerians have constitutional rights to freely express their legitimate grievances within the ambit of the law, the Buhari regime will not abdicate its constitutional responsibility of securing lives and properties.

He said his office would ensure robust deployments of security assets before, during and after the November 6 Anambra poll.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said the main focus of the meeting was the Anambra governorship election.

Mr Yakubu who expressed joy that attacks on INEC facilities had subsided since June, said that the commission was working on replacing all lost items during attacks on office facilities in Anambra.

“As you are aware, our office in Awka was attacked resulting in extensive damage to the building and the destruction of critical facilities for the election including ballot boxes, voting cubicles, vehicles, power generators and several non-sensitive materials for the election.

“I am glad to report that we have made arrangements to replace all lost movable materials.

“Similarly, we are making efforts to rebuild the physical facilities which will be completed before the election,” Mr Yakubu said.