The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged security agencies to up their ante in planning, deployment, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency coordination for the FCT area council elections and by-elections in Rivers and Kano States on February 21.

INEC chairman Joash Amupitan made the call during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Amupitan said that early planning and intelligence gathering were important to ensure that every electoral activity was conducted in a safe, peaceful, and credible environment.

“As campaigns draw to a close on Thursday, February 19, we look to the security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of the law, prevent the use of thugs, curb vote-buying, and guarantee the safety of voters and election personnel on election day.

“However, no amount of administrative readiness can substitute for effective security coordination.

“I urge all agencies to maintain constant communication, rapid response mechanisms, and professionalism at all times, particularly at flash points,” he said.

Mr Amupitan noted that the professionalism and dedication of security agencies not only earned a peaceful environment for the recent Anambra off-cycle governorship election, but a winner was also declared on the first ballot, despite past experiences in the state.

He urged security agencies to maintain the same professionalism and adequate security in the forthcoming elections to prevent avoidable challenges and ensure peaceful exercise.

“Conducting multiple elections simultaneously across different states further reinforces the need for heightened vigilance, adequate manpower deployment, and seamless inter-agency cooperation,” he said.

The INEC chairman also called for early and sustained security engagement for the upcoming Ekiti and Osun States governorship elections and the 2027 general elections, saying elections could not be credible if citizens felt unsafe to participate.

He said that INEC would soon embark on a nationwide voter revalidation exercise to further sanitise the national register ahead of 2027.

“This exercise, alongside the ongoing continuous voter registration, will require security support to protect facilities, personnel, and citizens, especially in areas prone to disruption.

“The credibility of our elections, and indeed our democracy, depends largely on your ability to secure the electoral process from start to finish.

“Let us remain vigilant, proactive, and united in purpose as we navigate this demanding electoral year,” Mr Amupitan said.

(NAN)