As Nigeria prepares for the Saturday Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Nigeria Police has assured foreign and domestic observers that their security is guaranteed before, during and after the elections.
Police said adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the security of poll officials, election materials, Central Bank branches across the country where sensitive materials are being kept, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC State, Local Government offices, Registration Centre and the entire citizenry during polls.
Mohammed Adamu, Acting Inspector-General of Police gave the assurance while explaining the security arrangements for the 2019 general elections during INEC briefing of accredited observers in Abuja on Tuesday.
Bello said in addition to the provision of security, the Police would also arrest and prosecute those indulging in vote buying and politicians who would come to voting zones with vehicles, clothes and materials crested with party logos which is tantamount to violating the electoral act 201( as amended) which prohibits campaigning on election day.
He further assured that Police personnel would not hinder accredited observers from performing their functions even though security personnel are not authorised to grant interviews to neither observers nor journalists.
Adamu reiterated that, “over 24,000 mobile police personnel will be deployed, 4,000 counter terrorism personnel will be deployed and about 8000 special protection personnel will be deployed”.
Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman in his opening remarks reminded both foreign and domestic observers that they are observers and not monitors and assured them of their security, stressing that necessary security arrangements have been put in place in all the states they will be deployed.
Jakaya Kikwete, Leader of Commonwealth Observer Group and former President of Tanzania said observers would stick to the principles of election observation, saying the reports will be sent to Commonwealth States at the end of the elections and wished Nigeria peaceful as well as credible polls.
James Kwen, Abuja
