2023: Buhari Assures Peaceful, Secure Elections That Will Reflect Freewill Of Citizens

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the 2023 general elections will be peaceful, and secure which will reflect the free will of Nigerian citizens.

President Buhari who pledged to “bequeath to the nation a democratic culture in which the police will not only be apolitical and impartial during the 2023 general elections,” also assured that the process will be “peaceful and secure, and the outcome truly reflective of the free will of the citizens.”

He gave the assurance at the commissioning of the newly acquired operational vehicles, crowd control and anti-riot gadgets, and high-capacity desktop and laptop computers to ensure proper enforcement of electoral laws, seamless electioneering process and stabilization of the public space before, during, and after the general elections.

Speaking at the event, Buhari said, “This vision can best be achieved through an efficient Police Force and I am delighted that the Force leadership is advancing my vision in this regard. Looking back at what I inherited as a Police Force, and where we are almost eight years into this administration, I can proudly say that I have significantly attained my re-positioning plan for the Nigeria Police Force and it is my expectation that subsequent national leadership in the country will sustain this initiative.”

President Buhari commended the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Police Force for the great achievement, saying, “I encourage you to sustain your zeal for service to the nation.

“You should, however, be reminded of my high expectations of your leadership, particularly, in relation to the provision of requisite police security that will engender not just a stable security space ahead of the General Elections but guarantee the credibility of the exercise.

“In this task, I call on the Inspector General of Police and indeed, all law enforcement agencies that will be complementing the Police in the election security process to note that the eyes of the nation and the global community will be on you all.

“Having been fully briefed by the Inspector General of Police of his detailed Operation Order and Action Plan for the 2023 General Elections during the Council of State Meeting that was held on Friday 10th February 2023, I have no doubt of the high level of preparedness of the Nigeria Police for the exercise.

“I trust also, that in line with your service oaths and statutory obligation to our beloved country, you will not disappoint us all as you put to effect your election security governance operational plans.

“On my part, I renew the assurances of my firm trust in your leadership and unwavering support for police. It is indeed, in demonstration of this that I recently approved the release of requisite funds to the Nigeria Police Force towards the continuation of the next phase in the annual recruitment exercise of ten 10,000 Constables in line with extant Presidential approval.

“It is in cognizance of this that I have remained firmly committed to the reform agenda of our Police all through. The overriding goal is to modernize, reform and restore the dwindling primacy of our Police within the internal security architecture of the country, our nation’s criminal justice delivery system, and the democratic process.

“To this end, I now move to commission the critical operational assets for effective use by the Nigeria Police Force.”

Meanwhile, the IGP in his speech said, the assets assembled were procured as part of the broad strategic plan of the Force towards stabilizing the security space before, during and after the 2023 General Elections and for purpose of enhancing the capacity of the Nigeria Police to manage civil disorder in line with acceptable national legal framework and global law enforcement protocols.

The IGP noted “Assembled here for Mr President’s commissioning are critical operational assets comprising of 88 Pick-Up Patrol Vans; 21 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs); nine Prado Jeeps; one Coaster Bus; 10 Water Cannon Trucks; two Rapid Razor Security Wires Dispensing Trucks; 9,607 Bullet Proof Vests and Plates; 2,055 Ballistic Helmets; 140,571 Long and Short Range Tear Gas Cell; 1,248 AntiRiot Helmets; 3,000 Hand Grenades; 30 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs); 1,502 Stun Guns and AK47 Rifles with Assorted calibres of live ammunition; 300 HP Desktop Computers; 250 HP Laptop Computers; 150Gubabi Fire Proof Safe; 100 Dragon Fire Proof Safe; and 150 Individual Filling Cabinets.”

The acquisition of these items, the IGP said was to demonstrate the determination of the Force leadership to advance Mr President’s commitment to a reformed, modernized, fully equipped, highly-motivated and citizens focused Police Force that is re-oriented to the virtues of professionalism, respect for rule of law, due process, operational efficiency and best international practices in our internal security mandates.

In a related development, the IGP also met with strategic Police managers, where he charged them on creating enabling space for peaceful elections.

The meeting comprised of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police across the nation at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The Conference, which is the first for the year 2023, is targeted at reviewing the internal security of the country and reassessing the NPF’s strategies towards the imminent 2023 General Elections.

The Inspector-General of Police tasked the Strategic Police Managers to safeguard the public space for the elections in active synergy with other security agencies.

While charging them to make certain that quasi-security outfits created and owned by state governments are precluded from the election duty, he stressed that national security interest overrides personal interest and as such, in line with the directives of Mr President, the election shall be policed in a civil manner with full compliance with the rule of law.

The IGP also warned all officers to remain apolitical in ensuring free, fair and credible elections.