Related Posts
Security agencies in the country are believed to be in possession of intelligence purporting that political parties vying for seats in the nationwide governorship and state assembly elections today have drawn up demographic maps that ethnically profiles voters with a view to influencing votes in today’s polls, Saturday Independent has reliably gathered.
This development, along with possible conflicts arising from voting logistics nightmare that has dogged the 2019 election since February, voters intimidation by members of the security forces and fear of vote buying by desperate politicians are other key ingredients expected to manifest during polls, today. There are, however, projections that the elections will be largely peaceful and turn out massive.
“It is clear from our intelligence gathering that politicians and their parties are prepared to make up for lost grounds in Saturday’s election. Quite disturbingly, there are reports that some parties especially the two leading ones have drawn up maps of areas in states showing ethnic concentrations,” explained a member of a joint security committee made up of police, the Department of State Services, DSS, the military and other outfits.
As also gathered, Lagos and Kwara States are believed to be possible flashpoints in this security scenario going by early signs gathered earlier in the week. Already, as learnt, some traders, believed to be of an ethnic origin in the country have noticeably closed shops in Lagos. The scenario is replicated in upscale areas in Ilorin, Kwara’s capital. Instructively, these intelligence reports have strong basis going by observation from last election.
For instance, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, NCSSR, in an interim report in the aftermath of February 23 presidential report catalogued irregularities, killings and bare intimidation that attended the polling exercise, especially in key areas where trouble is expected today. NCSSR is made up of globally connected NGOs in the country. They include CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI) Enough is Enough Nigeria, WANGONET, Partners for Electoral Reform, JDPC and YIAGA Africa.
Others are Development Dynamics, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Stakeholders Democracy Network, Human Rights Monitor, Reclaim Naija, CITAD, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE), CISLAC, and several other CSOs numbering more than seventy.
On the logistics front, the coalition observed that voting was delayed across the country, putting voting time at 11 am on the average as against the stipulated 8 am. “It appeared however, and as reported by Situation Room partner organisations, that the delay in commencement of polls was especially pronounced in some States across the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones of Nigeria,” the report said.
The report puts the logistics problem down to the sheer number of political parties contesting the elections, saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was overwhelmed in most aspects of their operations, including its ability to carry out timely procurement.
On the security front, the group noted that the last exercise was marred by killings. According to NCSSR, the presidential and national election related violence led to the death of at least 39 Nigerians over the first 48 hours of the elections. Breaking down the killings thus, it said Borno State had four; Bayelsa State four; Rivers State 16; Yobe State- two; Kogi State two; Ebonyi two Lagos one; Oyo, one; Delta two; Zamfara , one and Taraba State- four.
“Lagos State, there were reports of disruption of voting by suspected political thugs who shooting in the air in some places and set ballot boxes and paper on fire in others. In the Okota, Isolo and Oshodi suburbs of Lagos, there were reports of violence, some caused by non-arrival of INEC officials and materials,” the NCSSR reported.
As if in agreement with this report, the police have deployed manpower focusing on this particular areas and states. Even more events leading up to today’s election and noticeable deployment by police have lent credence to the fears expressed. Earlier in the week, 12 full buses, loaded with young men believed to be thugs were intercepted by police in outskirt of Akwa/Ibom by men of the Nigerian police. Upon interrogation, the suspects were said to have claimed being deployed by a Senator in the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, and a national officer of the same party.
The development is said to have rattled Mohammed Adamu, Inspector General of Police, IGP. At a meeting with top officers, on Wednesday, the police boss was heard insisting that retribution will come swiftly for any perceived lapse on the Akwa Ibom incident. And it did come in the form of massive redeployment. The chief casualties were the Commissioner of Police, CP, of Edo State, Hakeem Olusegun Odumosun, just redeployed in January, and his immediate boss, assistant Inspector general, AIG, David Folawiyo who were both transferred from their positions. In their place, Dan Mallam Mohammed is in as CP while Fredrick Taiwo Lakanu, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, takes over takes over from Folawiyo.
States mentioned in the NCSSR report also got the attention of the police IG and where hit with a gale of deployments of heavyweight senior police officers. Four State Commands, Anambra, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Sokoto, have new police CPs which are: Anambra – CP Rabiu Ladodo; Bayelsa – CP Olushola David; Edo – CP Dan-Mallam Mohammed and Sokoto – CP Aminu Koji Kwabe.
Also Benue, Imo, Plateau, and Taraba States have one Commissioner of Police each deployed to some of its Local Government Areas. These are Benue – Guma LGA, Logo LGA, Agatu LGA, Gwer East LGA, Gwer West LGA, Katsina Ala LGA, Okpokwu LGA, Ukum LGA; Imo – Orlu LGA, Okigwe LGA; Plateau – Langtang South LGA, Jos South LGA, Bassa LGA, Langtang North LGA, Riyom LGA, Barkin Ladi LGA; Taraba – Wukari LGA, Ibi LGA, Lao LGA, Karim Lamido LGA, Bali LGA, Kurmi LGA, Jalingo LGA, Dunga LGA, and Sardauna LGA.
There were other redeployments. In all, there were seven (7) Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) to the six geo-political zones across the country; ten (10) Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) to the police zonal commands and additional Two Hundred and Seventy Seven (277) Commissioners of Police to complement the efforts of the respective Commissioners of Police in the thirty-six (36) State Commands and the FCT.
Explaining this, Frank Mbah, police public relations officer, PPRO, said the move is in line with the IG’s stated commitment towards providing adequate security for the General Elections.
“With this deployment, each command now has additional three CPs deployed to the three (3) senatorial districts in their respective states of assignment which will form part of security management base for the command CPs. However, based on security assessment earlier carried out by the Force, some Local Government Areas in Plateau, Benue, Imo and Taraba States have one Commissioner of Police each deployed to coordinate security in the LGA,” the PPRO said.
He added that each of the officers are expected to work with the Command CP and to ensure that no stone is left unturned towards emplacing adequate security including the supervision of security personnel deployed to each of the Senatorial Districts under their watch.
Giving a breakdown of the deployment at the zonal level, Mbah narrated: DIG Usman Tilli Abubakar, mni would be taking charge of North East Zone; DIG Abdulmajid Ali – Coordinator; DIG Frederick Taiwo Lakanu, fdc – South-South Zone; DIG Anthony Ogbizi Michael, fdc – South-East Zone; DIG Yakubu Jubrin, fsi – South-West Zone; DIG Aminchi S. Baraya – North-West Zone; DIG Godwin C. Nwobodo, fdc – North-Central Zone. (Daily Independent)
This development, along with possible conflicts arising from voting logistics nightmare that has dogged the 2019 election since February, voters intimidation by members of the security forces and fear of vote buying by desperate politicians are other key ingredients expected to manifest during polls, today. There are, however, projections that the elections will be largely peaceful and turn out massive.
“It is clear from our intelligence gathering that politicians and their parties are prepared to make up for lost grounds in Saturday’s election. Quite disturbingly, there are reports that some parties especially the two leading ones have drawn up maps of areas in states showing ethnic concentrations,” explained a member of a joint security committee made up of police, the Department of State Services, DSS, the military and other outfits.
As also gathered, Lagos and Kwara States are believed to be possible flashpoints in this security scenario going by early signs gathered earlier in the week. Already, as learnt, some traders, believed to be of an ethnic origin in the country have noticeably closed shops in Lagos. The scenario is replicated in upscale areas in Ilorin, Kwara’s capital. Instructively, these intelligence reports have strong basis going by observation from last election.
For instance, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, NCSSR, in an interim report in the aftermath of February 23 presidential report catalogued irregularities, killings and bare intimidation that attended the polling exercise, especially in key areas where trouble is expected today. NCSSR is made up of globally connected NGOs in the country. They include CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI) Enough is Enough Nigeria, WANGONET, Partners for Electoral Reform, JDPC and YIAGA Africa.
Others are Development Dynamics, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Stakeholders Democracy Network, Human Rights Monitor, Reclaim Naija, CITAD, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE), CISLAC, and several other CSOs numbering more than seventy.
On the logistics front, the coalition observed that voting was delayed across the country, putting voting time at 11 am on the average as against the stipulated 8 am. “It appeared however, and as reported by Situation Room partner organisations, that the delay in commencement of polls was especially pronounced in some States across the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones of Nigeria,” the report said.
The report puts the logistics problem down to the sheer number of political parties contesting the elections, saying that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was overwhelmed in most aspects of their operations, including its ability to carry out timely procurement.
On the security front, the group noted that the last exercise was marred by killings. According to NCSSR, the presidential and national election related violence led to the death of at least 39 Nigerians over the first 48 hours of the elections. Breaking down the killings thus, it said Borno State had four; Bayelsa State four; Rivers State 16; Yobe State- two; Kogi State two; Ebonyi two Lagos one; Oyo, one; Delta two; Zamfara , one and Taraba State- four.
“Lagos State, there were reports of disruption of voting by suspected political thugs who shooting in the air in some places and set ballot boxes and paper on fire in others. In the Okota, Isolo and Oshodi suburbs of Lagos, there were reports of violence, some caused by non-arrival of INEC officials and materials,” the NCSSR reported.
As if in agreement with this report, the police have deployed manpower focusing on this particular areas and states. Even more events leading up to today’s election and noticeable deployment by police have lent credence to the fears expressed. Earlier in the week, 12 full buses, loaded with young men believed to be thugs were intercepted by police in outskirt of Akwa/Ibom by men of the Nigerian police. Upon interrogation, the suspects were said to have claimed being deployed by a Senator in the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, and a national officer of the same party.
The development is said to have rattled Mohammed Adamu, Inspector General of Police, IGP. At a meeting with top officers, on Wednesday, the police boss was heard insisting that retribution will come swiftly for any perceived lapse on the Akwa Ibom incident. And it did come in the form of massive redeployment. The chief casualties were the Commissioner of Police, CP, of Edo State, Hakeem Olusegun Odumosun, just redeployed in January, and his immediate boss, assistant Inspector general, AIG, David Folawiyo who were both transferred from their positions. In their place, Dan Mallam Mohammed is in as CP while Fredrick Taiwo Lakanu, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, takes over takes over from Folawiyo.
States mentioned in the NCSSR report also got the attention of the police IG and where hit with a gale of deployments of heavyweight senior police officers. Four State Commands, Anambra, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Sokoto, have new police CPs which are: Anambra – CP Rabiu Ladodo; Bayelsa – CP Olushola David; Edo – CP Dan-Mallam Mohammed and Sokoto – CP Aminu Koji Kwabe.
Also Benue, Imo, Plateau, and Taraba States have one Commissioner of Police each deployed to some of its Local Government Areas. These are Benue – Guma LGA, Logo LGA, Agatu LGA, Gwer East LGA, Gwer West LGA, Katsina Ala LGA, Okpokwu LGA, Ukum LGA; Imo – Orlu LGA, Okigwe LGA; Plateau – Langtang South LGA, Jos South LGA, Bassa LGA, Langtang North LGA, Riyom LGA, Barkin Ladi LGA; Taraba – Wukari LGA, Ibi LGA, Lao LGA, Karim Lamido LGA, Bali LGA, Kurmi LGA, Jalingo LGA, Dunga LGA, and Sardauna LGA.
There were other redeployments. In all, there were seven (7) Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) to the six geo-political zones across the country; ten (10) Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) to the police zonal commands and additional Two Hundred and Seventy Seven (277) Commissioners of Police to complement the efforts of the respective Commissioners of Police in the thirty-six (36) State Commands and the FCT.
Explaining this, Frank Mbah, police public relations officer, PPRO, said the move is in line with the IG’s stated commitment towards providing adequate security for the General Elections.
“With this deployment, each command now has additional three CPs deployed to the three (3) senatorial districts in their respective states of assignment which will form part of security management base for the command CPs. However, based on security assessment earlier carried out by the Force, some Local Government Areas in Plateau, Benue, Imo and Taraba States have one Commissioner of Police each deployed to coordinate security in the LGA,” the PPRO said.
He added that each of the officers are expected to work with the Command CP and to ensure that no stone is left unturned towards emplacing adequate security including the supervision of security personnel deployed to each of the Senatorial Districts under their watch.
Giving a breakdown of the deployment at the zonal level, Mbah narrated: DIG Usman Tilli Abubakar, mni would be taking charge of North East Zone; DIG Abdulmajid Ali – Coordinator; DIG Frederick Taiwo Lakanu, fdc – South-South Zone; DIG Anthony Ogbizi Michael, fdc – South-East Zone; DIG Yakubu Jubrin, fsi – South-West Zone; DIG Aminchi S. Baraya – North-West Zone; DIG Godwin C. Nwobodo, fdc – North-Central Zone. (Daily Independent)
