By Gom Mirian
The Nigerian military in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) have expressed their readiness to synegise towards the success of the February 25 general elections in the country.
They disclosed this at a joint national security briefing held in Abuja towards the forthcoming general elections.
The Force spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the IGP has order restriction of movement on 25th February 2023, which is consequent to the first part of the 2023 General Elections.
He said the restriction is aimed at ensuring public order management, the safety of electorates, as well as assisting the security agencies in effective policing, thereby preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process.
He added that, all security aides and escorts are banned from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
He said anyone found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned, saying only governors will be allowed to go out with few aids.
According to him, others allowed to move on the February 25 are INEC accredited members of press, persons on essential services, eligible voters and the security personnel specifically assigned to election duties.
Earlier, representatives of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, the Director Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Tukur Gusau urged the security agencies to remain vigilant, apolitical, and steadfast in discharging their constitutional responsibilities.
The CDS reassured the public of military support to the Nigeria Police as the lead agency election security management and assured that the AFN is prepared to support the Nigerian Police and other government agencies responsible for conducting elections.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria(AFN) is committed to total collaboration, the elections will be conducted and everyone will be at liberty to exercise his franchise”
“The AFN is committed to strong and viable constitutional democracy,we are very loyal to the Nigerian State and we are ready to defend democracy at all cost”, he said.
