Governorship Elections 2023: Defense Minister Assures Safe Polls In Kogi, Imo And Bayelsa

Defense Minister Bello Matawalle has assured stringent security measures will be in place in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states ahead of governorship elections to be held Saturday.

Matawalle said the ministry has made "adequate arrangements" to ensure that "noise makers" are managed by the security agencies "decisively" during the elections.

"Adequate arrangements have been made for security agencies to deal decisively with any noise maker and anyone who wants to foment trouble or crises during the elections," he said Thursday, Premium Times reported.

The minister also said military personnel will work round the clock to help voters in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states. Matawalle will monitor the ground situation from his office during the election.

"We shall ensure that the three states will be safe and the people protected," he added. "I assure Nigerians that the elections will be held amicably; nothing will happen to anyone. The elections will be conducted in these states peacefully."

The defence minister alleged that the previous government couldn't ensure security, especially from the banditry.

"We need key legislation on insecurity. It is gradually going down, we just received two attack helicopters to strengthen the battle against insecurity," he said. "The issue of Boko Haram is not new in the North East and our system, but because of what has transpired in the previous government, the issue was not taken seriously to tackle. Today actions are being made and operations taken on such criminals. The issue of security needs collective cooperation from state, local governments and federal government for Nigerians."

Major-General Edward Buba, the director of Defense Media Operations, also issued a warning to troublemakers who are planning to disturb the electoral processes masquerading as military personnel.

"Be assured of injurious consequences should you proceed with those plans," he said. "We will not allow our image to be dragged to the mud. You're warned."

He noted that the security agencies are all set to identify and differentiate between fake and real military officials.

In August, Matawalle demanded a timeline to end terrorism and banditry from the service chiefs. Nigeria is dealing with several internal conflicts and since the 2020s, attacks from bandits have increased.

In August, 13 people were killed in two different attacks by Boko Haram militants in the villages of Wulari and Maiwa in northeastern Nigeria's Borno.