The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern warning to political actors with violent tendencies and those involved in vote buying, ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections and by-elections in Rivers and Kano states scheduled for February 21.
Ribadu spoke during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Friday.
He cautioned that any individual or group planning violent acts or attempting to manipulate votes would be identified, restrained, and prosecuted before, during, and after the elections.
Represented by Hassan Abdullahi, Director of Internal Security in the Office of the NSA, Ribadu urged political parties, candidates, and supporters to uphold the integrity of the democratic process and conduct themselves with decorum.
“As we prepare for the FCT area council election, and by-elections in Kano and Rivers States, the Nigerian Police Force, designated as the lead agency for election security, in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies, is mobilising resources to prevent any disruption to the electoral process,” Ribadu said.
He added that adequate security personnel would be deployed to polling stations and high-risk areas, while political thugs and vote buyers would be traced and apprehended.
Ribadu also called on media, civil society, community leaders, and citizens to cultivate a sense of shared responsibility to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
Praising the successful conduct of the recent Anambra governorship election, he said the peaceful outcome reflected President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to free, fair, and violence-free elections, setting a benchmark for upcoming polls.
“This achievement is particularly significant as the nation prepares for the upcoming FCT area council elections, by-elections in Rivers and Kano states, off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti on June 20 and Osun on August 8, the 2027 general elections, and nationwide voter revalidation,” Ribadu said.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, represented by CP Abayomi Shogunle, assured the public of massive security deployments to ensure peaceful elections and protect INEC facilities and staff.
Earlier, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan called on security agencies to enhance planning, deployment, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency coordination to guarantee credible elections in the FCT, Rivers, and Kano.
