A meeting of Nigeria’s National Security Council (NSC) has ended at the Presidential Villa Abuja with a declaration that the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 2023 will hold as scheduled.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba, told State House journalists at the end of their maiden council meeting in 2023 that the NSC’s decision was based on the assuring briefs from the nation’s defence and security.
Under the Third Schedule Part I Federal Executive Bodies (Established by Section 153), Section 26 says: “The Council shall have power to advise the President on matters relating to public security including matters relating to any organisation or agency established by law for ensuring the security of the Federation.”
Specifically, Malami said the meeting, presided by President Muhammadu Buhari, was fully briefed by Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, the three Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police and heads of other security agencies about their readiness to provide the necessary security backup for Saturday’s poll.
According to him, the Council’s meeting was a followup to earlier meetings of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Council of State.
The NSC, he noted, affirmed the readiness of the electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police and security agencies to go ahead with the general elections in the country.
He stated: “The summary and conclusion of all submissions was to the effect that the system is wholeheartedly ready for the conduct of the election and arising from there, the position of the government, the position of the president is to the effect that election is holding on the 25th day of February 2023.
“The president and the National Security Council are happy with the preparations on the ground and wholehearted arrangements are put in place in that direction.
“So, we have been mandated to brief you accordingly. The summary of it, the conclusion of it, the resolution of the Council is to the effect that elections are holding and there is no going back about it.”
