The National Security Adviser, (NSA), Retired Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongonu has pleaded with the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency(NIIA) and members of the intelligence community to up their game towards resolving the emerging security challenges targeted at the scuttling the nation’s electoral process.
He spoke at an emergency meeting of the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, (ICCES) summoned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
He urged the intelligence community to enhance the operational capabilities of their men for them to continue to assist the security agencies meet the increasing criminalities and challenges possed by non state actors, he said, are determined to dislodge the National effort to sustain democracy.
General Mongonu l,who is co-Chairman of ICCES assured that his office is however is steadfast unwavering and unrelenting in its support of activities of INEC, stressing that the regardless of the plot by the non state actors the electoral process begun in 1998 would be sustained.
“We are on hand to ensure that the will of the people is sustained regardless of any individual situation and regardless of what happens . Of course we are hampered by non state actors who are determined to dislodge the effort but I hope the outcome of this meeting will be very productive towards extinguishing whatever is plaqing our socio political landscape “
Earlier in his address INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu had said that the spate of attacks on the nation’s electoral infrastructures is a national security emergency, as he demanded an all year round protection of election infrastructure.
He declared that the mere fact that elections in the country has become an all year round undertaking, the infrastructure needed to care for this constitutional mandate deserved to be protected.
” In the next nine months, two major elections will be conducted. The Anambra State Governorship election is scheduled to hold on 6th November 2021 to be followed by the end-of-tenure elections for 68 Area Council constituencies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) holding on 12th February 2022.
” These major elections will be followed by the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections ahead of the 2023 General Election which is just 632 days away.
“In addition to elections, the Commission is also preparing for the resumption of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on 28th June 2021 to enable Nigerians who have attained the age 18 years and those who did not register previously to do so. Similarly, registered voters who wish to change their voting locations and those who wish to correct their names and other details on their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) can do so.
“We plan to create 2,673 registration centres and deploy 5,346 officials for the exercise along with expensive voter enrollment machines. All these activities require security, thereby adding to the urgency and importance of this meeting”
Underscoring the urgency of the problem the said the spate of arson, vandalization and outright destruction of INEC facilities in the last two months has been particularly disconcerting.
” In the last two years, the Commission has recorded a total of 41 incidents involving deliberate attacks on the Commission’s facilities. Nine of these incidents happened in 2019 and 21 cases in 2020.
” In the last four weeks, 11 offices of the Commission were either set ablaze or vandalised. Two of these incidents were caused by Boko Haram and Bandit attacks while 10 resulted from thuggery during election and post-election violence.
“However, the majority of the attacks (29 out of 41) were unrelated to election or electoral activities. In fact, 18 of them occurred during the EndSARS protests in October last year while 11 attacks were organised by “unknown gunmen” and “hoodlums”.
“Our preliminary assessment so far indicate that we lost 1,105 ballot boxes, 694 voting cubicles, 429 electric generating sets and 13 utility vehicles (Toyota Hilux).
He expressed confidence that an all year round protection of INEC facilities under the auspices of ICCES will solve the problem.
