The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (retd.), has said the Federal Government will ensure that elections hold in the North-Eastern part of the country.
The NSA also gave the assurance that efforts would be made to make it possible for Internally Displaced Persons to vote during the elections.
Dasuki said the government had taken elaborate steps to ensure that the forthcoming elections were not marred by violence.
He explained that the Federal Government had given the requisite support to the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies in addition to encouraging various sensitisation programmes in the polity.
The NSA made the comment while speaking as a guest of the Chatham House, London, on Thursday.
He said, “Given the above, the 2015 elections are expected to be relatively peaceful and violence-free. The Federal Government has taken all necessary measures to ensure this by making adequate provisions for INEC, security agencies and by supporting numerous sensitisation programmes.
“We are conscious that there is anxiety about whether elections will hold in the North-East and the ability of the government to ensure that the internally displaced persons will be able to vote.
“Our answer to both of those is yes. As far as is possible, we are determined that adequate security will be in place to enable elections in all the areas in the North East that are safe, and that the IDPs will be provided with the opportunity to exercise their rights.
“The emergence of a seemingly viable opposition, as well as the closeness of the race is a clear demonstration of our maturing democracy. Greater voter awareness also means that people are more engaged in the electoral process and determined to protect their right to vote. We on our part are doing all we can to ensure that every Nigerian, who wants to vote, is able to and that their votes will count.”
Dasuki explained that the government had set up an InterAgency Consultative Committee on Election Security to ensure that issues emerging from the elections were promptly handled.
He said the ICCES comprised “top INEC officials, commissioners, directors and heads of department with representation from all the security agencies, including my office.”