A former Chief of Army Staff and immediate past Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazau, has expressed concerns that the growing insecurity in the country could cause a major challenge to the conduct of a a violent free election in 2023
Dambazau noted that the menace of terrorists and the members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra constitute a major threat to the 2023 elections.
He warned that insecurity would affect the election, noting that some communities in Northern Nigeria are currently in the control of terrorist groups, while others are still been displaced, adding that the terrorist would continue to attack soft targets which would make officials of the Independent Electoral Commission harbour fears.
Dambazau, who gave the warning, when he spoke while delivering a paper titled, ‘2023 Politics: National Security and Nigeria’s Stability’, at the Blueprint Newspapers Annual Public Lecture in Abuja on Tuesday.
Dambazau said, “Would insecurity affect the 2023 elections? Surely it would, because some of the community would still be displaced and the terrorists would likely continue attacks on soft targets, INEC officials and ad-hoc staff would be highly apprehensive despite the assurance by the government to protect them. Access to polling units in border communities may pose some difficulties. This is a more reason adequate security must be provided.
“As we also prepare for the 2023 elections, we should also think of the possibility of an attack on the election processes by violent groups. The security threats against the 2023 elections are not limited to the activities of terror groups in the North but also the proscribed IPOB in the South East.
“The group had earlier threatened that there would be no election in the region in 2023 and insisted that all they want is to secede from Nigeria. They must not be allowed to carry out such a threat.
He also emphasised the urgent need for reform in the security sector, stating that there is no unity among the various security agencies.
Dambazau said, “There’s a need for reforms and the reason they are necessary is that there appears to be no synergy among the security operatives in terms of cooperation, coordination and collaboration while carrying out their activities.
“Rather, they operate in silos, they hoard information and are reluctant to share intelligence as if they are in competition. Also, there is poor security governance, making accountability and transparency almost impossible and there is duplication of efforts leading to wastage of resources.”
