Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has issued a stern warning to political actors against violence and vote buying ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election and the by-elections in Rivers and Kano states, scheduled for February 21. Ribadu pledged that individuals or groups planning electoral malpractice would be identified and restrained before, during, and after the polls.
The warning was delivered during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting in Abuja, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Represented by the Director of Internal Security in the Office of the NSA, Hassan Abdullahi, Ribadu emphasised that the Nigerian Police Force, as the lead security agency, is mobilising resources to safeguard the process. He announced that adequate personnel will be deployed to polling stations and high-risk electoral wards, with specific measures to identify political thugs and trace vote buyers. Political parties, candidates, and supporters were urged to conduct themselves with decorum, with a warning that non-compliance will be met with severe legal consequences.
Ribadu also called on the media, civil society, community leaders, and citizens to share responsibility in protecting electoral integrity. He commended INEC and security agencies for their “outstanding performance” during the recent Anambra governorship election, describing its peaceful outcome as a benchmark for future polls and evidence of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to credible elections. This success, he noted, is crucial as Nigeria prepares for the FCT area council polls, the Rivers and Kano by-elections, off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti (June 20) and Osun (August 8), the 2027 general elections, plus ongoing voter registration exercises.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, represented by CP Abayomi Shogunle, assured the public of massive security deployments to ensure violence-free polls. The police will provide constant security for INEC facilities and staff nationwide to enable unhindered operations. Earlier, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, urged security agencies to enhance planning, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency coordination for the imminent elections.
The coordinated security apparatus and references to Anambra’s success underscore a decisive push to prevent historical patterns of electoral violence and fraud. The upcoming elections will test the durability of these safeguards as Nigeria’s electoral calendar advances toward larger polls.
