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Over 500,000 Security Personnel To Safeguard Polling Units

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Mahmood Yakubu,chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday announced that over 530,000 security personnel will be deployed at polling units for the forthcoming general election.

He stated that the commission required 1,265,227 external officials for the 2023 elections and has completed 12 out of 14 planned activities in preparation for the exercise.

Security personnel, including policemen and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, will be stationed at polling units during the general elections.

The Senate also stated that the electoral body has no excuse for not ensuring the credibility of the elections as they have met all the commission’s requirements.

The INEC chairman reassured that the 2023 elections in Nigeria will take place as scheduled, during his presentation at the Chattam House in London.

He also announced that a total of 1,265,227 officials, including 707,384 presiding officials, 17,685 supervisory presiding officers and 9,620 collation/returning officers will be in charge of the polling units.

The presentation was titled, “Nigeria’s 2023 Elections:Preparations and Priorities for Electoral Integrity and Inclusion”

Yakubu stated, “For the 2023 general elections, the commission requires at least 707,384 presiding and assistant presiding officers, about 17,685 supervisory presiding officers, 9,620 collation/returning officers as well as 530,538 polling unit security officials, making a total of 1,265,227.

“These officials are not staff of the commission and must be carefully recruited and trained to ensure that they are both fit-for-purpose and non-partisans,” Yakubu said.

He added that the majority of election officials in Nigeria are temporary or at-home staff, mainly recruited from among young Nigeria University and polytechnic graduates who are enrolled in the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps.

He emphasized, “preparing them adequately for their roles as polling officials, supervisors and result managers in Central to a successful election.”

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Politics

2027 Election: Wike Sets Resignation Date If Tinubu Loses Rivers, FCT

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he will resign from office if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fails to win the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State in the 2027 presidential election.

Wike made the declaration during an engagement with the leadership and members of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Association in Abuja.

The FCT Minister said his continued stay in office would depend on his ability to deliver electoral support for President Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State.

SEE ALSO: ‘You Can’t Support APC And Other Parties At The Same Time’ –  Gov Lawal To Wike

According to Wike, the 2027 presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, and if Tinubu loses in the FCT and Rivers, he would announce his resignation the following day.

“If I lose FCT, I’m not supposed to be FCT Minister. By January 17, 2027, I will announce my resignation as FCT Minister should the President lose in Rivers State and the FCT,” Wike said.

He added: “If I cannot deliver where I work, then I’m not worthy to be here.”
Wike also outlined his political strategy for the FCT, saying a multi-party coalition was being put together to secure victory for Tinubu and other supported candidates in the territory.

He declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying: “For the Presidency, it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu!”

The minister also endorsed Philip Aduda for the Senate and disclosed support for two House of Representatives candidates who, according to him, are former Area Council chairmen.

“In the FCT, we are running a unified coalition across parties to deliver results,” Wike said.

The declaration comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, with Wike positioning himself as a key figure in efforts to mobilise support for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State.

The engagement also touched on the ongoing efforts by the FCT Administration to address the relocation and land allocation issues involving traders and mechanics operating around the Apo Mechanic Village corridor.

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2027: ‘They’ve Shown Peter Obi More Than One Kobo, Yet He Hasn’t Backed Down’ — Afegbua

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Former Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, has challenged Labour Party presidential hopeful Peter Obi over his previous “one kobo” statement on alleged indebtedness.

Afegbua made the remarks while discussing inherited liabilities and the efforts of governments to settle outstanding obligations.

According to him, the fact that an administration inherits funds alongside existing liabilities does not eliminate the responsibility to settle debts owed to individuals or institutions.

SEE MORE: ‘Obi Did Not Loot A Kobo’ — Obiaraeri Compares Peter Obi, Akpabio’s Records

Drawing a comparison with Obi, Afegbua said the former Anambra State governor had previously challenged anyone to produce evidence that he owed even one kobo, promising to back down from the presidential race if such evidence was provided.

“We are not like Peter Obi that says he’s not owing one kobo. And even if anybody—he challenges anybody that if they show him one kobo, that he should… he will back down from the race.

“They have shown him more than one kobo, he has not backed down from the race,” Afegbua said.

He illustrated his argument with a hypothetical example of a person inheriting ₦20 million from a parent who had outstanding debts of ₦18.5 million.

Afegbua said the fact that the inherited money exceeded the debt would not remove the obligation to pay those owed.

“The crux of the matter is that your dad was owing people, even though the money he gave to you was more than what he was owing people. He didn’t pay them at that time. That point must be established,” he said.

The former commissioner also criticised what he described as attempts by politicians to present themselves as moral authorities despite controversies surrounding their records.

“You see, it is very difficult for people to wear the—I said it the last time I came here—for people to wear the moralist’s garb and begin to preach morality when the evidences before them do not portray that moralist badge that they try to wear,” he said.

Afegbua further pointed to Obi’s long history in public life, noting that the former Anambra governor had been a prominent public figure for years, including his time in the banking sector.

“So, Peter Obi has not been living in isolation. He has been a public figure for quite a long time when he got into Fidelity Bank, became its chairman, and all of that,” Afegbua said.

He added that Obi should not, in his view, present scenarios that do not reflect reality.
“And he should not be bamboozling us with all kinds of scenarios that don’t exist,” he added.

Afegbua’s comments come amid renewed political activity ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Recalls that Obi has previously made public challenges over claims concerning his record. In a recent interview, he also said he would withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if anyone established that any of the academic credentials he presented were false.

“If they find anyone wrong, I will drop from the race,” Obi said.

 

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2027: Ogun Police Begins Early Election Security Preparations, Warns Against Political Violence

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The Ogun State Police Command has commenced early preparations for the 2027 General Elections, urging political actors and other stakeholders to work together to prevent violence and protect the integrity of the electoral process.

The Command began a two-day stakeholders’ workshop on Tuesday at Event Towers, Ibara, Abeokuta, with the theme, “Elections, Security, The Law, Stakeholders & The Media.”

SEE ALSO: Ogun Deep Seaport: Abiodun Thanks Tinubu, Says 30-Year Dream Becoming Reality

The workshop, organised in collaboration with the Development Communication Research Centre Ltd. (DCRC), brought together representatives of security agencies, electoral institutions, political parties, the media, legal and human rights bodies, professional associations and community organisations.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Rtd. AIG Sola Subair, said security agencies, electoral institutions, political parties, the media and other stakeholders had a collective responsibility to preserve electoral peace and protect the democratic process.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, stressed that election security should not begin on election day.

He called for early preparation, professionalism, political neutrality, intelligence sharing, respect for fundamental rights and stronger coordination among stakeholders throughout the electoral cycle.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the Command’s readiness to deploy its personnel and resources professionally to maintain a safe and peaceful environment before, during and after the elections.

The Commissioner also warned against allowing criminal elements and political violence to undermine the electoral process, stressing the need for stakeholders to operate within the law.

The workshop features participation from the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Amotekun Corps, So-Safe Corps, vigilante groups, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Bar Association, Police Community Relations Committee, political parties, media organisations and civil society groups.

Professor Bolu John Folayan, Executive Consultant to the workshop, said stakeholders needed a clearer understanding of their respective responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act and Police Act.

According to him, improved knowledge of these responsibilities would strengthen coordination and reduce avoidable friction during elections.

The technical sessions include a keynote presentation by Professor Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf on the relationship between elections, security, the law, professional conduct and responsible communication.

The workshop will continue on Wednesday, September 30, with sessions focusing on election security, stakeholder responsibilities, community engagement, media relations and contemporary social media management.

The Ogun Police Command said the initiative forms part of its proactive approach to election security and its commitment to ensuring a peaceful electoral environment across the state.

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