2023: Foreign Nations Refused To Share Details Of Security Threat With FG – NNPP Chair Speaks On Upcoming Elections

The National Chairman of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Ahmed Alkali, has said the security threat to the forthcoming 2023 elections is real.

Alkali, however, stated that the NNPP was convinced that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was capable of conducting the elections as scheduled.

Speaking on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen at his party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the NNPP stalwart addressed the alarm raised by a National Commissioner of INEC, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru.

According to him, it was imperative that political parties and the electoral body work hand in hand to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election.

Alkali said, “We’re aware that some foreign nations raised security alarms. We don’t know what they know, but they didn’t share what they know with the Federal Government; that of course was enough to raise tension.

“But they should also have announced their return the way they announced their exit. However, no matter the circumstances, there must be a new government in 2023. Therefore, both INEC and the leadership of political parties must work towards that.

“We know INEC doesn’t talk anyhow to have said this at this critical time, there must be a reason.

“We also know that the CBN Governor also changed the currency of Nigeria. Maybe the intention was right, but the timing is wrong; we don’t know what they want to achieve but that is a sufficient reason to undermine the election.

“Also, political parties signed an agreement under the National Peace Committee and we all agreed to conduct our campaigns, peacefully.

“But you are aware of the development since INEC announced that parties can kick start their campaigns. Governors aren’t allowing the opposition to campaign in some states. In Borno, they removed the billboards of our governorship candidate.”

He went on to list other happenings in the country which showcased the turbulence in the political environment.

“You can also hear people asking for the removal of the INEC chairman. Once you do that, the whole process is disrupted.

“I haven’t even mentioned security threats to INEC offices and even their personnel.

“But we are sure the security forces have the capacity to stop all these threats to conduct the election,” he added.