Federal Gov’t Set To Crush Political Thuggery, Vote Buying — Ribadu

The federal government has vowed to clamp down on political thuggery, vote buying and all forms of electoral misconduct as Nigeria heads into a series of crucial elections beginning February 21.

National Security Adviser to the President, Nuhu Ribadu, stated this yesterday at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting held in Abuja.

Represented by the director of Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi, the NSA said security agencies had been fully mobilised to guarantee peaceful, credible and law-abiding polls across the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers and Kano states.

He said, “The federal government will not tolerate any form of electoral malpractice. Political thuggery, vote buying, and violence have no place in our democracy, and we are fully prepared to confront these threats head-on.”

Abdullahi commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for what he described as the successful and orderly conduct of the Anambra State governorship election held on November 8, 2025.

He said the outcome further demonstrated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to violence-free and credible elections, while setting a positive benchmark for future polls.

According to him, the country is entering a critical election phase with the upcoming FCT Area Council elections, by-elections in Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies in Rivers State and the Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State, all scheduled for February 21, 2026.

He added that preparations are also underway for the Ekiti and Osun off-cycle governorship elections, the 2027 general elections, the nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise (VRE), and the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration.

Abdullahi explained that the Nigeria Police Force as the lead agency for election security, was coordinating closely with the armed forces and other law-enforcement bodies to prevent any disruptions.

He stated that adequate personnel would be deployed to polling units and high-risk areas to deter violence and ensure the safety of voters and electoral officials.

He stressed that individuals or groups known for political violence, thuggery, or attempts to buy votes would be identified, monitored, and apprehended before, during, and after the elections. “Political parties, candidates, and supporters must conduct themselves with decorum,” he warned. “Any deviation from the law will be dealt with decisively.”

The NSA’s representative also called on the media, civil society organisations, community leaders, and citizens to actively promote peace and responsible conduct throughout the election period. He noted that collective commitment remains essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process and maintaining the integrity of electoral outcomes.

Earlier, in his speech, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan, urged security agencies to ensure full compliance with the law as campaigns wind down.