The Federal Government must urgently rally stakeholders for better security ahead of the 2023 general elections. This was the resolution of scholars, security experts and election managers at an online symposium with the theme, “2023 General Elections: Enhancing Internal Security for Credible Polls,” at the weekend.

Speakers include former INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olurode; a Professor of Political Science at the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Ilufoye Sarafa Ogundiya; a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Dr. Hakeem Tijani and Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Audi.

At the virtual event, organised to celebrate Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola at 65, Ogundiya, in his paper, said, Nigeria must, as a matter of urgency, allow democracy to make sense to the people through peaceful elections.

He observed that the general insecurity in the country poses a major challenge to conduct of credible elections, alluding to a recent alarm raised by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over threats to the exercise.

Reeling statistics, Ogundiya said between 2011 and 2021, 58,562 persons were killed by terrorists in seven northern states of Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna, Adamawa, Yobe, Benue and Plateau.

Saying the next elections will pose serious challenge to the Nigerian state, he stated that the insecurity has several dimensions, which he listed as economic, psychological, emotional and political.

For the coming elections, he enumerated the implications as increased apathy, disenfranchisement, low voter turnout and election management complications.

The insecurity in some parts of the country, according to him, must be looked into, especially the “ungoverned spaces.”

He said, “though INEC might say it is ready for elections, a lot would depend on the assurances that the security agencies can provide.”

In his submission, Olurode reiterated that security forms part of what he called “critical stakeholders of election.”

His words: “As far as I know, I think INEC is 85 per cent ready for the election. But INEC has security challenge to face. When you consider the number of policemen to secure poling units, you will know that the force is overwhelmed.”

Aside security agencies, Olurode mentioned other critical stakeholders to election management as political parties, voters and the courts.

He said economic insecurity also stands in the way of credibility of electoral processes.

Adding that the courts are also a threat to proper conduct of elections, Olurode said, “many Nigerians erroneously believe that the courts are manned by people who have no political biases.”

“That is not true. When political parties are done with their things about primaries and all that, where do you run to? Is it not the courts? That makes the court an integral part of election management in Nigeria,” he stated.

To Dr. Hakeem Tijani of NISER, Ibadan, recent surveys have demonstrated a progressive growth in apathy by Nigerians to elections.

He said a recent study showed that of many African countries, Nigeria came out worst in terms of apathy, with 34 per cent turnout.

NSCDC boss, Audi, in his presentation, said no country “is crime-free,” urging Nigerians not to give up in the face of insecurity.

He argued that under the current administration, the battle against banditry and terrorism had been fought relentlessly.