By Sunday John
#TrackNigeria: Mr Labaran Maku, Nasarawa State Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has advised Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to engage Nasarawa State security outfit for the conduct of the general elections.
Maku, a former Minister of Information, gave the advice on Thursday in Wakama Community of Nassarawa-Eggon Local Government Area.
He said in an interview with newsmen that the state government was planning to influence INEC to use personnel of Nasarawa Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES) in its (government’s) bid to rig the elections.
‘‘I have it on good authority that the state government wants NAYES officials to be used in the forthcoming elections just like they used them in the local government elections in the state in 2018.
‘‘So, we would not accept any security outfit in the election apart from the federal and recognised security agencies,’’ Maku said.
The APGA standard bearer also urged INEC and the security agencies to be highly professional and maintain neutrality during the elections.
He said that most times the lack of neutrality by the electoral umpire and security agencies was responsible for post-election violence in the country.
He called on the electorate to be law-abiding but to protect their votes until the real winners were announced.
When contacted, ASP Samaila Usman, Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, said that NAYES would not participate in the elections because it was not a federal security outfit.
He said members of Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service and Federal Road Safety Corps would be in-charge of security during the elections.
Usman assured members of the public that the police would be highly professional to ensure rancour free general elections. (NAN)
