National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has declared zero tolerance for electoral violence ahead of the August bye-elections and the November governorship election in Anambra State.

Ribadu warned politicians and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly or face severe consequences.

The NSA gave the warning on Friday at the second regular meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

Ribadu, who was represented by the Director of Internal Security at the Office of the NSA, Hassan Abdullahi, said the government would not hesitate to act decisively against any individual or group attempting to undermine the electoral process.

According to him, security agencies are under strict directive to intensify surveillance, boost intelligence gathering, and implement proactive measures to neutralise potential threats, particularly in areas vulnerable to subversive activities and political interference.

The NSA said: “Our primary objective remains to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming elections. Therefore, we must ensure that eligible voters exercise their right to vote without fear or intimidation. In this regard, we will strengthen collaboration between security and law enforcement agencies to quickly address potential threats and challenges during the elections.

“Accordingly, the security component of ICCES will, among other things, intensify intelligence efforts to monitor and pre-empt any threats to these elections and provide real-time intelligence to enable the implementation of proactive measures. This is especially in States that are infested with recalcitrant subversive non-state actors whom desperate politicians could exploit to undermine the elections.

“We will also maintain dialogue with the leadership of political parties and candidates to foster understanding and reduce tensions, as engagement with these stakeholders has proven effective in the past and should remain a priority.

“Political actors and their supporters in the affected States and the FCT are warned to conduct themselves with decorum and respect for the democratic process, as any form of electoral violence and malpractices has no place in our elections.”
In his remarks, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, outlined key activities scheduled for the next six months.

According to Yakubu, these include 16 bye-elections across 12 states on August 16, the Anambra off-cycle governorship election on November 8, and the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which begins with online pre-registration on August 18, followed by in-person registration on August 25.

Yakubu urged security agencies to provide adequate protection for election personnel, materials, and voters.

He confirmed that two court-ordered rerun elections, previously disrupted by violence, will also be conducted in Enugu and Kano on August 16, following the provision of security guarantees.