In a stern warning to any group or some subversive elements with the intent of disrupting Saturday’s general elections, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said it was battle ready to stop at nothing to defend the nation’s democracy.
Acting Director Defence Information Brigadier General Tukur Gusau gave the warning Thursday in Abuja during a joint briefing with the Nigerian Police, Department of State Services and other security agencies, at the Defence Headquarters.
He said as earlier assured by the Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor, the Nigerian Armed Forces remains committed to total collaboration with other security agencies towards a successful poll.
“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.
He added that military operations and duties would continue simultaneously across the country during the elections.
Gusau also said Operation Safe Conduct had been activated to provide guidance to the AFN during the general elections.
Similarly, the DHQ established a monitoring team in conjunction with other security agencies to oversee the process in FCT and all six geopolitical zones of the country.
Police
Corroborating Gusau’s position, Force Public Relations Officer CSP Olumiyiwa Adejobi said: “We are together in making sure we protect our democracy and work towards having a good transitional progress in Nigeria democracy.”
The Police spokesman said there would be restrictions of movement from 12.01am to 6pm on 25 February 2023, while also banning personnel attached to VIPs from escorting them to the polling units.
“We are going to be very assertive. We want Nigerians to know that starting from 12am to 6pm of Saturday 25 February 2023, there will be no vehicular movement, or the Okada or tricycle movement or boats on our water ways. Restrictions order is very key for all of us to have well-organized security arrangement for the success of the electoral process,” Adejobi said.
He, however, said: “Exceptions to these restrictions include accredited members of the press. Only those accredited by INEC will be allowed to move from one point to another. Security agencies don’t accredit journalists, so the INEC has done that and giving them tags.
“Don’t move out without your tag so that you will not be embarrassed and again those on other essential services such as the firefighters, ambulances responding to medical emergencies and some other people that we know that they are on essential services such as telecoms have been given a waiver to move around to ensure that our systems still work while the elections last.”
Speaking further, he said the ban on unauthorised use of vehicles, sirens, revolving lights, covered number plates, unregistered vehicles, and tinted glasses is still in force.
“When the election is on, officers and men have been deployed to carry out election duties, please take note of these and arrest violator of this order. The ban is still in force, we don’t expect to see any individual with unregistered vehicles or blaring sirens while the election is still on. We need to be orderly.
“I want to say without mincing words that our officers and men, particularly those that are detailed to VIPs or politicians as escorts or aides are not allowed to move with any one of them during the elections.
“Apart from governors that can go out with ADC, and we don’t expect them to go with large number of security operatives because on that day we all are equal before the law, but we still know that they are governors and they can only go out with ADC or orderly. But any other person who is not a governor, who does not enjoy any constitutional immunity but has privileges of having security personnel as aides or escorts, will not be allowed to go out to any polling unit with his security operatives.”
He urged eligible voters to move close to their polling units to avoid contact with law enforcement officers.
DSS
Also speaking, Public Relations Officer Department of State Services (DSS) Dr Peter Afunanya assured of the agency’s neutrality during the process.
He described as baseless and “untrue” accusations of intimidation against the Service.
He said the Service engaged in proactive and intelligence-led operations across the states to achieve the desired environment for the elections.
“For instance, on 22nd February, 2023, the Service conducted a legally backed search operation on a property along Airport Road, Nasarawa LGA, Kano state. During the operation, it recovered dangerous weapons including a gun, daggers, swords, jack-knives from the said building.
“Therefore, the accusation that the Service intimidated a particular political party in that State is untrue; otherwise, how come those weapons were found there? Are those objects of violence campaign materials? Whether in Kano or elsewhere, the DSS has provided equal opportunities for all political parties to engage in their lawful activities. We can say this without any form of contradictions or equivocations” he said.
Benue South endorses Atiku
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Benue South Senatorial District, have endorsed the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
A statement by Paul Mumeh said the endorsement took place in Otukpo Thursday at a meeting in the home of former Senate President, David Mark.
According to the statement, the PDP stakeholders resolved to vote for Abubakar on the premise that their interest would be better served under his presidency.
They distanced themselves from those campaigning for candidates of other political parties, saying they cannot be faithful members of the PDP and be seen to be working for candidates of other political parties.
They therefore urged all party members not to be distracted by the antics of a few but should go all out to vote for candidates of the PDP in the February 25, 2023 and March 11, 2023 elections.
Addressing the stakeholders drawn for the nine local government areas in the senatorial district, Senator Mark told them to be faithful to PDP “because it makes no sense for people to be jumping from one party to the other.”
He described political parties as vehicles for achieving one’s political ambition that must of a necessity be held sacrosanct, obeying the rules and regulations.
He said those jumping from one party to the other “are people without conviction or do not know what they really want”.
In his remarks, the lawmaker representing the district, Senator Abba Moro, urged party faithful to remain steadfast with the PDP.
LP collapses structure for Tinubu
And in Adamawa state, the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party, Alhaji Umar Mustapha, has collapsed his political structures for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He made his position known Thursday at a press conference in Yola, saying the LP at both the national and state levels undermined his aspiration and sidelined him in all their activities.
He said the party was telling the public they didn’t have a candidate in him, but only Peter Obi, its presidential candidate.
He further accused the party leadership of monetising and selling out all the LP’s positions to the PDP except that of the party’s presidential candidate.
The gubernatorial candidate also said Obi had nothing to offer the nation, and asked them to vote Tinubu come Saturday.
How to defeat APC – Kachikwu
In a related development, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Dumebi Kachikwu has declared that with the realities on ground, his party can’t make it to victory in Saturday’s presidential poll.
He also said both the LP and PDP must agree to form a common front if the APC is to be defeated.
Kachikwu spoke in a statement titled “My closing argument’ and issued Thursday in Abuja.
While clarifying that his position didn’t amount to withdrawing from the contest, the ADC standard bearer thanked all those who believed in him since he started the race.
“My dear friends in the media. Thank you for all your support and encouragement. Please let me reiterate that my statement doesn’t say or imply that I have quit. It simply means that I have no pathway to victory. It is also important for me to let my supporters know our realistic chances. Thank you and God bless,” Kachikwu clarified.
He said: “When I embarked on this journey a year ago, I started with what I called My Opening Argument and promised to end my campaign with My Closing Argument. I believed then that my final argument would be a pitch on why you should vote for me but alas as we prepare to vote in the next 48hrs, I am forced to accept the sad reality that there is no pathway towards victory for Ahmed and I.
“I will therefore make a different argument today and it is the case for a Nigeria that works for everyone. Before I do this, I would like to thank Ahmed for not only agreeing to run with me but for his dedication and total loyalty. I went looking for a VP and found a brother. I want to thank our wives, Ikeme and Maryam, who have been tolerant, supportive and patient.
“They endured a lot of sleepless nights hearing us strategize on how to stop Ralph Nwosu and his gang from selling us out. Ahmed and I would like to thank our mummy, Senator Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki, the State Chairmen of our party, candidates and party members who stood by the constitution of our party and refused to sell out. Doing the right thing is never easy. They all did what was right even in the face of being expelled from the party or losing their tickets.
“There are those who sold out and it speaks to their character. Whenever you see any candidate running on the platform of one party and promoting the candidate of another party, then you know someone who lacks character. They seek shortcuts. They want to get into office at any and all costs, but they have failed the first test of leadership, which is loyalty. We must never support or vote such candidates into office. Don’t let them deceive you. If they can betray their parties, they will betray the public trust.”
Giving an insight into likely scenario Saturday, Kachikwu said: “Except the PDP and Labour can reach an agreement in the next 24hrs on how to collaborate to win the elections, any vote for Peter Obi is a vote for Bola Tinubu. PDP and Labour need each other. It is that simple. As true democrats, the leadership of both PDP and Labour must find a way to work with the other smaller parties towards building a formidable coalition that ensures the contest is even.
“Any attempt to go this alone guarantees another four years for the APC. I commend and congratulate my friends and fellow Presidential Candidates, Prince Adewole of the SDP, Sowore of the AAC and Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim of the YPP for their spirited efforts in ensuring Nigerians are liberated.”
“Outside of the Nigerian Civil War, the last eight years under the APC Government has been the toughest period ever for Nigerians since Independence. As President Buhari prepares to handover, he is unleashing more pain and misery on Nigerians with the misguided recolouring of the Naira.
“He and his advisers believe that this would limit the undue advantage that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has with a huge war chest to buy over voters. What they have inadvertently done is make it easier for the APC candidate as millions of voters will be unable to exercise their democratic franchise because of cash constraints. Most of those affected by this will be the Labour Party supporters.
“The odds therefore favour the APC Government to continue in power. How you might ask? It is very simple. The APC structure that brought in Buhari eight years ago still brought him back four years ago even though most Nigerians were united in saying he wouldn’t come back,” he added.
