Monguno assures on peaceful elections
Doyin Adekoya
Nigerian security agencies do not envisage violence in the forthcoming governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, according to National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno.
Monguno gave this assurance after the Tuesday meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Abuja.
However, some political analysts say as heart-warming as this assurance is, the social media remains a force with which to contend. The unregulated social media as well as the activities of the Obidients movement is of concern.
The movement, which comprises the supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, is uncomfortable with the results of the February 25 poll, claiming that the results were fraught with anomalies.
Allaying fears, Monguno said the March 18 elections might be complicated but it would be largely peaceful because series of meeting had been held with the security agencies, especially with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police.
“Of course, the elections on Saturday are going to be much more complicated, and contextually different. First of all, we are going to have 1021 constituencies which mean more people are interested, and more people to vote. Obviously, the dynamics would be much more different than the elections that were just concluded,” Monguno said.
“For the security agencies, I know a lot has been done. I have been talking with the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Inspector General of Police, who is the head of the lead agency in the process of elections.”
Monguno appealed to political parties and their candidates to let maturity and discipline be evident in their actions during and after the polls.
He would want them to be patriotic by calling their supporters to order. “What we do not want to happen is for anybody to take the law into his or her own hands. We are going to give the maximum support to all entities involved in this process. And we are also calling on political parties to call their people to order.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has advised political parties not to see the March 18 elections as war but as a contest.
“It is therefore important for parties and candidates to speak to their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war,” said Prof. Yakubu.
“They should refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of our personnel, observers, the media and service providers.”
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