Police assure FCT residents of peaceful election on Saturday

The Nigeria Police Force, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, on Wednesday, enjoined residents in the area councils to come out to vote on Saturday without any fear of attack.

The Commissioner of Police (CP) FCT, CP Dantawaye Miller, said this at the enlarged stakeholders’ forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja ahead of the area council election.

Miller said that each polling unit would have a reasonable number of security personnel, adding that adequate security measures had been put in place in identified high risk areas.

The CP also urged political actors to play by the rules to allow for peaceful and credible election.

“I expect a very high level of decorum, every stakeholder doing things the right way. I would expect that we don’t allow the arm of the law to go after us,” he said.

Miller said that on the part of police and other security agencies, they were ready for the election.

According to him, there will be massive deployment of policemen and support from other security agencies.

He said that the police and other security agencies would work with INEC to ensure a credible and peaceful election.

Also, INEC National Commissioner in-charge of FCT, Muhammad Haruna, emphasised the need for secured environment to ensure the election was successful.

Haruna said that without security, the commission could not conduct the election.

The National Commissioner said that the FCT election was very important to Nigerians and the commission, hence the need to ensure it must be successful.

He said that by the Constitution of Nigeria, the FCT Area Council election remained the only election conducted by INEC and it has become reference point for conduct of local government elections in the country.

“We all testify to the fact that since 1999, it’s only this council election that has been consistent,” Haruna said.

On his part, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), FCT Coordinator, Ateli Samson, assured INEC that corps members were ready for the election.

“We will continue to ensure that our elections are successful,’’ he said.

Also Mr Bitrus Garki, Mandate Secretary, FCT Area Council Service Secretariat (FCT-ACSS), urged all political parties and candidates to play by the rules.

Garki further tasked politicians to embrace issue-based campaign, and place the interests of FCT and its residents above all considerations.

He advised all stakeholders to take full advantage of the forum, engage constructively, and commit themselves to credible elections.

Garki emphasised the need to ensure that the FCT election reflect the true will of the electorate, as well as free from violence, intimidation, or disinformation.

“On behalf of the FCT-ACSS, I would like to express our commitment to supporting INEC and all other stakeholders within our constitutional mandate to ensure peaceful environments, peace, and security,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, FCT Chapter, Adama Yahaya of the Allied Peoples Movement, pledged all the parties commitment to play by the rule and to sensitise their members to the need for peaceful election.

He tasked INEC on integrity of the electoral process by ensuring free, fair and credible election on Saturday.