Niger Delta
2015: Police Warn Security Agents Against Interference
The Police in Delta State
have warned security agencies charged with providing security during the forthcoming general elections not to interfere in the election process.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Alkali Usman, gave the warning in Asaba, while addressing a meeting of Delta Inter-Agency Consultative Forum on Election Security.
He said the primary role of the security agents was to provide adequate security at polling units, collation centres and to ensure that election processes were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
“Let me sound it clear that security agents are not allowed to interfere in the process of accreditation, voting, counting of ballot papers, collation and declaration of results.
“However, they should be witnesses to the declarations and a copy of the result signed by the returning officers should be given to the security agents,” Usman said.
The commissioner reminded the security agents that they were mandated to take necessary measures to prevent violence or any activity that may threaten or disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections.
According to him, the security agents should also provide intelligence security networking; ensure the security and safety of all election materials as well as officials.
Usman disclosed that the meeting was necessitated by the need for the various security agencies to dialogue and join forces together to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.
“The essence of this meeting is for us to plan and put in place a formidable synergy in ensuring the provision of adequate security during the forthcoming elections.
“Many people believe that this election is going to be tough and challenging.
“This is why we must all provide election security which is crucial for creating the proper environment for peace and harmony,” the commissioner said.
Also speaking, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Delta, Elder Aniedi-Abasi Ikoiwok, said the commission was committed to ensuring peaceful, credible, free and fair elections.
He disclosed that the commission had set up inter-agency committee on voter education.
According to him, we are going to embark on aggressive voter education to ensure that every eligible voter has his or her permanent voter’s card.
“This is important because no voter will be allowed to vote without the PVC, so our major task is to ensure that we get the cards across to every registered voter,” he said. Ikoiwok said that the introduction of the Card Reader would bring into play a new innovation in the commission’s effort to address the major challenge of voters’ accreditation.
He explained that the Card Reader would ensure effective accreditation as well as guard against irregularities associated with accreditation of voters in previous elections.
“If electoral officers did what INEC told them to do in 2011, by recording and announcing the number of accredited voters before voting, there would have been no need to introduce card reader,” he said.
In his contribution,he State Coordinator of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Isaac Ezechi, tadvised stakeholders in the electoral process to be dedicated in efforts to achieve success in the election.
The Delta State House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on the State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
The Tide’s source reports that the public hearing was organised by the House Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services and Girl Child Entrepreneurship in Asaba.
Chairman of the committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, said the hearing was to provide members of the public the opportunity to offer contributions to the proposed law.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the state has a law that adequately answers to the challenges it seems to address and satisfy the needs and aspirations of our people and society.
“We have invited you to join us to make a law that will help to effectively address and eradicate the odious practice of human trafficking in our state.
“We know that as stakeholders, the effective participation in making this law will go a long way in enhancing the quality of the law that will finally emerge from the process”, she said.
Anyafulu assured the stakeholders that the committee would look into their suggestions and consider areas that could help to strengthen the bill as well as enhance its quality.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan, called for the inclusion of the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in the implementation process.
It also reports that Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), among others, were involved in the public hearing.
They commended the State Executive for initiating the bill and called for its speedy passage.
The Federal Government has handed over 24,180 bags of 50kg maize and 5,828 bags of 25kg ‘garri’ to the Akwa Ibom State Government for distribution to vulnerable households.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the presentation on behalf of the Federal Government in Uyo, the State Capital.
Represented by Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, the Head, Operations, NEMA, Akwa Ibom State office, Umar said the donation was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserve to vulnerable households.
Umar said that the president’s promise was the government’s way of reducing the impact of the current economic hardship in the country.
“We are here to hand over the food items to the state government for distribution to the intended beneficiaries in the communities”, she said.
The NEMA D-G said that the food items should be shared in the communities through properly constituted committees at the local government levels.
She said membership of the local government committees should include the council chairman, representatives of the State Emergency Management Agency and the traditional institutions.
Umar said 20 per cent of the food items for each council area should be given to religious groups, and that three per cent of it should be given to boarding schools in the area.
Receiving the items, Dr Offiong Offor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the Federal Government for the intervention.
Offor said that the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of the citizenry.
The commissioner promised that the state government would ensure that the items were given to the intended beneficiaries.
A group, Concerned Obidient Movement, has declared support for Mr. Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Leader of the group, Mr. Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, told newsmen in Benin that the election transcends individual personalities.
“It is a critical moment that will shape the future of Edo. The PDP is creating a climate of renewed political energy that promises sustainable progress.
“Its candidate, Ighodalo, and the deputy, Osarodion Ogie, possess the vision and qualifications that align with the aspirations of Edo people,” he said.
Igbinevbo highlighted the candidates’ deep understanding of the State’s challenges and potential which, he said, positions them to lead the state into a new era of prosperity and responsible governance.
He urged Edo people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to unite in their support for the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.
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