As electioneering campaigns for the 2023 polls officially kick off on Wednesday, September 28, personnel of the Delta State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been reminded of the need to be resolute, neutral and apolitical in the discharge of their duties to guarantee free, fair and credible elections.
The State Commandant of the security outfit, Akinsanya Abiodun, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Dsc Emeka Peters Okwechime, saidthe credibility of the 2023 general election would be adjudged by the level of professionalism, operational guide, regiments, standards and conduct of the political parties, politicians, youths, civil societies, critical stakeholders including the security agencies, before, during and after the elections.
Commandant Abiodun said the mandate of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was not limited to the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, licensing, monitoring and regulation of the activities of private security guard companies, but also included the protection of the electorate and professionals, orientation, early warnings, crisis and disaster nanagement, among others.
He stressed that the Command’s personnel must show commitment to building public trust and confidence to maintain national peace, security and a determined zeal to advance the tenets of democracy, democratic values and national security.
The State NSCDC helmsman ordered all Area Commanders and the 25 Divisional Officers to work closely with INEC officials and political party leaders in their respective areas of operation, with a formidable synergy and collaboration with other sister security agencies in monitoring activities during the campaign period and ensuring adequate security.
Commandant Abiodun warned private security outfits operating in the state to steer clear of electoral duties as they were not assigned any role in the Electoral Act (as amended) insisting that Electoral Security Actors (ESA) must be allowed to perform their legitimate duties.
He said such security companies should not be involved or used by any political or local community actor during the electioneering campaigns and other electoral processes, as that would amount to gross illegality and a threat to the nation’s security architecture, which could jeopardize the nation’s democratic process.
The Commandant warned politicians, youths and mischief makers to shun any form of violence, campaign of calumny, character assassination, hate speech, among others, capable of breaching the peace, advising that they should rather engage in issue based campaigns and strive to rekindle hope for a better Nigeria.
He urged criminally minded persons in the state to have a rethink as the NSCDC would not hesitate to deal decisively with such persons in accordance with the extant laws of the land.
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