Post-election violence likely in 2015, says NSA Dasuki

Sambo Dasuki

NIGERIANS were yesterday warned of the likely consequence of the growing tension in the country after the next general elections.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki (rtd) said the tension could trigger post-election violence in 2015.

Col. Dasuki spoke at the opening of a two-day workshop on “Security challenges of Election management: Matters arising from 2011 and participating 2015”.

It was organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conjunction with Friedrich-Ebert Foundation.

The NSA charged the various security agencies to map out strategies ahead of the polls to prevent the country from being plunged into avoidable crisis.

Warning that the violence for the next election would come from different angles, the NSA said extra efforts must be made to curtail the likely challenges. Admitting that there cannot be perfect elections, Col. Dasuki urged Nigerians to take advantage of the lessons learnt from the 2011 polls. 

He said: “The competition among politicians may be more intense in 2015. So, more tension should be expected. Nigeria can get anything right when there is the determination and political will on the part of critical stakeholders to achieve success...No two elections are the same; 2015 is likely to bring new challenges.

“There could be possible violence but with a different angle to it, not only post-election but before and during, because of the prevailing security situation, unless the security situations gets better before then.

“There are likely to be challenges however well prepared a country may be, especially in the provision of election security. The unexpected could happen; a good example was the post-election violence, which was not expected, especially in context and magnitude.

“Thorough preparation and coordination of information, strategies and operations among various security agencies would always be necessary for successful conduct of elections. 

“The security agencies, INEC, politicians and the general populace must harmonise their world views, be on the same page, as in the case of the 2011 general elections. 

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar identified a good security arrangement as essential in any democratic success.

He listed the present security challenges in the country to include: the menace of Boko Haram in the Northeast; the Niger Delta crisis; kidnapping and armed robbery in the Southeast; ethno-religious/political crisis in Plateau State; recent trends of explosion with attendant casualties in some parts of the country and political upheavals in some parts of the country.

The police chief said: “A dispassionate examination of the security challenges, with a view to preventing any reoccurrence in future elections is most pertinent and must be accorded all the attention due to it.  The security situation in the nation is presently bedeviled by some threats that are being brought under control.” 

INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega said the commission would do everything possible to get it right in the 2015 general elections.