What FG must do to avoid a security blackout during the elections, by Imumolen d'Accord
Professor Christopher Imumolen, presidential candidate for the Accord party, has suggested ways that he believes would enable the federal government to effectively manage any security issues that may arise in the upcoming general election.
Security concerns have often tended to hamper the smooth conduct of elections in Africa's most populous country in the past, with cases of violence, ballot box theft and assassinations erupting in several hotspots across the country.
But while commenting on what he thinks is the best way to counter the threat in February's hotly anticipated presidential election, Imumolen said the massive recruitment of ad hoc security personnel to cover the lack of available police personnel and other officers was key to ensuring that there was not enough room for malicious people to disrupt the election.
"According to available statistics which peg the number of security guards at 350,000 nationwide, it is not possible to have adequate security coverage for the 176,000 polling stations on the day poll," Imumolen said.
"And this scarcity is what ill-intentioned people, bent on disrupting the election, would seek to exploit and wreak havoc as they have consistently done in recent years.
"Unmanned voting booths are a sure recipe for danger. Polling officials are not safe. Voters are not safe. In fact, just about anything can happen.
“Therefore I would like to suggest that ad hoc security personnel be recruited and trained immediately to help cover the shortfall we currently have.
"We should, as a matter of urgency, call on patriotic Nigerians interested in the success of the forthcoming elections to come forward and offer their services to ensure a smooth poll," he added.
Imumolen, who at 39 is the youngest candidate for the 2023 presidential election, also hailed INEC's decision to switch from the old method of conducting elections with analog computer technology and to adopt the simpler method of digital technology, as it would improve the whole. process of voting, ranking and announcement of results.
"INEC's decision to adopt digital technology instead of the old analog system in this election is a good development as it will be more efficient," he said.
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Professor Christopher Imumolen, presidential candidate for the Accord party, has suggested ways that he believes would enable the federal government to effectively manage any security issues that may arise in the upcoming general election.
Security concerns have often tended to hamper the smooth conduct of elections in Africa's most populous country in the past, with cases of violence, ballot box theft and assassinations erupting in several hotspots across the country.
But while commenting on what he thinks is the best way to counter the threat in February's hotly anticipated presidential election, Imumolen said the massive recruitment of ad hoc security personnel to cover the lack of available police personnel and other officers was key to ensuring that there was not enough room for malicious people to disrupt the election.
"According to available statistics which peg the number of security guards at 350,000 nationwide, it is not possible to have adequate security coverage for the 176,000 polling stations on the day poll," Imumolen said.
"And this scarcity is what ill-intentioned people, bent on disrupting the election, would seek to exploit and wreak havoc as they have consistently done in recent years.
"Unmanned voting booths are a sure recipe for danger. Polling officials are not safe. Voters are not safe. In fact, just about anything can happen.
“Therefore I would like to suggest that ad hoc security personnel be recruited and trained immediately to help cover the shortfall we currently have.
"We should, as a matter of urgency, call on patriotic Nigerians interested in the success of the forthcoming elections to come forward and offer their services to ensure a smooth poll," he added.
Imumolen, who at 39 is the youngest candidate for the 2023 presidential election, also hailed INEC's decision to switch from the old method of conducting elections with analog computer technology and to adopt the simpler method of digital technology, as it would improve the whole. process of voting, ranking and announcement of results.
"INEC's decision to adopt digital technology instead of the old analog system in this election is a good development as it will be more efficient," he said.
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