Two weeks to the November 11, 2023 governorship polls in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the elections in the three states will be free, fair and credible. 
 
While assuring voters that every single vote will count, the president ordered security agencies to ensure that there is no form of interference and manipulation in the conduct of the elections. 
 
National Security Adviser (NSA), Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu, stated this yesterday when he met with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, along with the Commission’s National Commissioners and other members of the inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
 
Present at the meeting were the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa and Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi.

Ribadu emphasised the importance of ensuring fairness and security in the upcoming elections, saying the polls would be better than previous elections. 
 
Noting that the off-season elections is the first to be conducted under the present administration, the NSA said the President was ready to provide all necessary support to ensure that Nigerians have free and fair elections. 
 
The NSA said: “Nothing is as important as a free and fair election in a democracy. That we can assure you; this government is ready to provide that. Mr. President has given his orders. He said he wants to see free, fair, credible elections.
 
“This is going to be the first election that is going to be under his watch. He said that we should take this message to INEC and to Nigerians that he is going to be very much available to support you to make sure Nigeria will have free and fair elections.
 
“Also to tell everyone including the politicians, there’s nothing much more important than to have a free and fair election, if we want this country to move forward.
  
“He is a democrat; he believes in democracy. He will support you. Already we have seen it. In the entire requirement we have put out to him, he has given us the go ahead. The entire security forces and all our requirements have been met; the rest is for us to deliver.”
 
While noting that security plays a crucial role in upholding the integrity of elections, Ribadu assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would ensure strict adherence to the established regulations for the elections.
 
“Extensive preparations have been undertaken in readiness for this significant event. Our primary objective is to conduct elections that are not only free but also trustworthy and peaceful, scheduled for November 11, 2023,” he stressed. 
 
The NSA also conveyed the unwavering commitment of the President, noting: “The President has unequivocally promised to facilitate a groundbreaking election. We firmly believe that these elections will transpire without any interference, violence or intimidation.
 
“We are resolute in providing all the necessary elements to ensure a flawless election on November 11, 2023, for the governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.”
 
The IGP, on his part, warned troublemakers threatening to disrupt the elections to be ready to face the full wrath of the law. He declared the readiness of the security agencies for the polls, saying the police have finalised deployment for the elections. 
 
While appealing to those who may want to come out to make trouble to stay away from the three states, Egbetokun vowed that, “there would be no place for them to operate in this election.”
 
He said the police were aware of some negative mobilisation by some candidates and their supporters but promised that their plans would fail.  He also hinted on the massive deployment of security agents to Imo State. 
 
His words: “I want to tell you that we are committed to making it a free and fair election. The security agencies are ready for these elections and we have received all necessary information from INEC, which has informed us on where to deploy during this election. 
 
“We have carried out our threat assessments and that has informed us  in respect to allocation of our resources and deployments of our men. All the security agencies are collaborating strongly to ensure that this election is violence free. My appeal to people who may want to come out to make trouble is to stay away from these elections because there will be no place for them to operate in this election. 
 
“We are aware of negative mobilisation by some supporters of some candidates and we are already monitoring them. We are ready for them for this election. I appeal to them to stay away from this election.  I also urge the electorate to come out en masse and cast their votes.”
 
Speaking in the same vein, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, assured voters that the Armed Forces would provide full and comprehensive support in ensuring that the police perform its duties without any interference. 
 
He said: “So, we want to assure Nigerians especially those in these three states for the offseason election not to have any further fear or any doubt because the Armed Forces and the police and other security agencies will be fully on ground. 
 
“Every Nigerian, we are sure, is tired of elections with violence. We intend to make it different.”  Asked about the security threats posed by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South East, especially Imo State, the CDS said the organisation would not be allowed to disrupt the poll. 
 
“Not at all. That is why we are assuring you that we have already deployed fully on ground, both covertly and overtly and to ensure that anybody who attempts to disrupt any of the elections will have himself to blame. That we guarantee,” he said.