As Nigerians prepare to elect new leaders, Human Rights Defender and Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, has harped on the need for security agencies to be up to speed in order to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
Nwanguma who made this call while delivering a lecture during a webinar titled “Strengthening the Fabric of Democracy: Promoting Peaceful and Non-Violent Electoral Processes in Nigeria”, organised by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), monitored by The New Diplomat, Wednesday, said the role of security agencies in election is important to poll’s credibility.
According to him, the security agencies have a role to ensure there is adequate security which will make citizens come out to vote without fears of being harmed or harrrassed.
Nwanguma also pointed out that once the atmosphere of a country is not safe, the citizens won’t have the chance to freely exercise their civic duty in elections.
In his words, “I was watching arise this morning, and they showed former America President, Barrack Obama, who was addressing Nigerians, one of the things he said was that, for elections to be credible, they have to be free, fair and peaceful, and that there is no place for violence in democratic elections. So that, I found very valuable to talk about.
“I want to start by saying that election is a crucial element for democracy. Holding regular, free and fair elections, is a means to institutionalise legitimate authority of representative government, as well as the democratic change of government.
“So, security and peace, you know, and an atmosphere that is free of violence is essential to the ability of citizens to go out and freely exercise their civic duty, the rights to vote in elections. And this rights is undermined by violence and insecurity. Violence also undermines confidence in the electoral process, and I hold the view that the process is as important as the outcome. If you have a compromised process, the outcome will definitely be will not be credible.
“So, security agencies have a role in maintaining law and order, providing safety and security for those participating in elections, and preventing or apprehending those involved in the electoral violence and misconduct. The Nigerian police, as you know, is the lead agency on security. But of course, they are supported by other security and law enforcement agencies, the military to SSS and other agencies.
“As a primary internal security and law enforcement agency charged with the enforcement of our laws, the police are also elite agency in election security in charge to enforce the electoral acts with support from other law enforcement agencies. As I already said, the primary functions of the police are outlined in section four of the police Act 2020.”
