By Ayo Yusuf
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has assured Nigerians that the November off-cycle polls in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states will be violence-free and possibly the best ever in the nation’s history.
The NSA who said President Bola Tinubu is committed to credible elections assured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that there would be of no interference from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Malam Ribadu gave the assurance on Friday when he met with the INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu along with the Commission’s national commissioners and other members of the inter-agency Consultative Committe on Election Security.
“This election will be better than any previous ones. It will be without violence, it will be free and fair and there will be no interferences,” said Malam Ribadu who told the gathering that President Tinubu is ready to back the Commission to succeed in doing that.
TheNewDiplomat learnt that the gathering, held at the NSA’s office in Abuja, is part of the consultative meetings by the Commission ahead of the November 11, 2023 off-season exercise.
INEC had previously raised security concerns ahead of the polls in one of its meetings with political parties.
The security of voters, critical election materials, and the protection of collation centres were part of the concerns raised by the INEC Chairman during Friday’s meeting.
He appealed to security officials to deal decisively with those who cause violence on election day.
