The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, says security agencies are putting measures in place to provide a secure environment for the nationwide February 3 by/rerun elections.

Mr Ribadu, represented by the director of internal security in the Office of the NSA, Hassan Abdullahi, stated this at the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting on the elections on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the security agencies were also working on measures that would uphold the integrity of the electoral processes.

“The president and commander in chief of the armed forces, as always, posited that the ability of security agencies to maintain law and order, protect lives, property and ensure the safety of voters, electoral officials and candidates is fundamental to the integrity of the electoral process.

“Therefore, in future elections, particularly the forthcoming by-elections and rerun elections, we must prevent and manage election-related violence, intimidation and other security threats so as to uphold the credibility of the process,” said Mr Ribadu.

He assured that the office of the NSA, security agencies and INEC would collaborate to ensure a peaceful and secure environment during the elections.

Mr Ribadu added that the Office of NSA was also coordinating security agencies in the strategic management of post-electoral conflicts to hold the legitimacy of the outcomes of the votes.

He said that in addition to proactive communication with plans, measures were also in place for transparent handling of security-related issues in shaping public confidence and perception in ICCES and agencies involved.

Mr Ribadu said that learning from the last off-cycle governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi, the office of the NSA believed that strategic planning for post-election security remained crucial in maintaining law and order.

He said such was also crucial in preventing post-election violence and addressing any security challenge that might arise following the announcement of results.

On his part, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said the police, as a lead agency in election management, would provide security alongside other security agencies for the elections.

Mr Egbetokun said the police are aware of the challenges associated with conducting isolated elections.

“I want to assure Nigerians that we are on top of the situation,” said Mr Egbetokun. “We have conducted threat analysis in all 26 states where elections will take place, and we are going to deploy according to the assessments.”

He added, “We are also going to deploy adequately and massively for this election, just like we did in the last elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi.”

(NAN)