Service Chiefs, Others Brainstorm On Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo Elections

Inspector-general of police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has convened a high-power inter-agency consultative security meeting at the Force Headquarters, Abuja with the aim of strategising ahead of the governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.

In attendance were senior officers representing the leadership of various security and law enforcement agencies involved in election security.

The meeting attracted representatives of the service chiefs – chief of defence staff (CDS), chief of army staff (COAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and the chief of air staff CAS).

Others were chief of defence intelligence (CDI), the director-general of the Department of State Services  (DSS), his National Intelligence Agency (NIA) counterpart, the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the controller-general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the boss of the Correctional Services, the helmsman of the Federal Fire Service and DG of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The Force PRO, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the meeting was organised in preparation for the off-season elections scheduled for November 11, 2023, in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states.

The IGP, who was represented at the event by the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of operations, DIG Ede Ayuba, underlined the significance of cross-fertilization of ideas among various security and law enforcement agencies towards election security.

The DIG, while emphasising the plans of the IGP to maintain law and order during the elections, warned political gladiators, and their followers to be law-abiding and play the game according to the rules as the police and other security agencies will never allow any act of hooliganism, political rascality and lawlessness in any part of the states or in any other state across the country.

He said the goal is to develop collaborative strategies that will ensure that the upcoming elections are secure, free, fair and credible.

He praised the collaborative efforts of the armed forces and other sister law enforcement agencies, highlighting their role in fostering unity and contributing to the success of past general elections.

The meeting was identified as one among series of brainstorming sessions outlined by the Force, aimed at securing the forthcoming off-season elections on November 11, 2023.