By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), said it will be deploying 20,000 personnel for the Anambra governorship election in order to ensure a hitch free poll.
The NSCDC also said officers will also
ensure the electorates are not disen franchised in view of the security challenges rocking the South-Eastern part of the country.
The Commandant General of the Corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, made the disclosure during the opening ceremony of a 3-day train-the-trainers capacity building and electoral workshop for its personnel at the NSCDC headquarters yesterday, ahead of the Anambra governorship election.
He maintained that the forth coming election is seen largely by many Nigerians as a pilot test to ascertain the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and all the stakeholders to conduct free, fair and credible polls as the nation draw closer to the 2023 general elections, hence, the Corps resolve to put forward its best towards the success of Anambra state election.
In his words; “While the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence is committed to carrying out its official responsibility in the most civil manner, we are aware of the murderous activities of criminal elements in Anambra State and the other parts of the region and will not allow anyone under any guise to frustrate the safety of lives and property of every law abiding and peace-loving citizens and residents of the state as we are determined to clamp down on any element of threat before, during and after the election.
However, there are flash points. The Corps in collaboration with other security agencies have deployed strategies to checkmate any act of electoral violence and other nefarious activities capable of undermining the electoral process. Any act of sabotage and negative tendencies to frustrate democracy and good governance in this election will be severely dealt with,” Audi added.
The Ag DCG Operations of the Corps, Haruna Lawal Muhammed, in his welcome address stated that the essence of the programme is to have a hitch free election and ensure that personnel keeps to the rules of engagement. And that the need to sensitize the heads of operation for the effective discharge of their duty in the Anambra election is imperative.
Director of Security Service INEC, Nduh Lebari Sampson, in his own remark said, the Commission is happy to be part of the programme in view of the role security agents will play towards the success of the exercise as INEC cannot do it alone without the effective collaboration of other stakeholders.