WHAT THE FG MUST DO TO PREVENT A BREAKDOWN IN SECURITY AT THE 2023 ELECTIONS—IMUMOLEN

Professor Christopher Imumolen, the presidential candidate for the Accord Party, has offered suggestions on how the Federal Government may successfully handle potential security issues that might arise during the upcoming general election.

Elections have historically been marred by security issues, with incidents of thuggery, ballot box stealing, and assassinations of rivals erupting at a number of flashpoints across the nation.

In contrast, Professor Imumolen asserted that the key to ensuring that there is not enough room for malicious individuals to interfere with the elections in any way is through massive recruitment of ad-hoc security personnel to make up for the shortage in the number of policemen and other operatives who are currently available.

In a recent interview with the Punch newspaper, Professor Imumolen stated, “From available statistics which peg the number of security men (policemen and others) at 350,000 all over the country, it is not conceivable to have appropriate security protection for the 176,000 voting locations on election day.”

And because of this lack, those with malicious intentions who want to sabotage the polls would be eager to wreck havoc as they have in the past.

Unattended polling places are a recipe for disaster. Poll workers are not secure. Voting is unsafe. In reality, anything is possible.

“For this reason, I would like to recommend that ad hoc security staff be hired and trained immediately to help make up for the gap we currently have.

In order to ensure smooth elections, he continued, “We should, as a matter of urgency, invite Nigerians who are patriotic and interested in seeing to the success of the impending elections to come forward and offer their services.”

Professor Imumolen applauded INEC’s decision to switch from the traditional manner of holding elections using analog computer technology to the more straightforward digital technology since it will improve the entire voting, results collation, and announcement process.

It would be more efficient, thus INEC’s decision to employ digital technology rather than the outdated analog method in this election is a welcome step, he said.