On Wednesday, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa stated that Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu has no preferred candidate in the upcoming Edo State governorship election on Saturday.
According to DAILY POST, General Musa made this announcement during a meeting with stakeholders, including INEC, the police, and other security agencies in Benin City.
Musa emphasized that Tinubu’s preferred candidate will be the one chosen by the electorate. He added that the goal is to ensure the election is the most peaceful, in line with Tinubu’s mandate.
“Mr Tinubu does not have any favourite. His favourite is whoever the people of Edo vote for and that’s what we must ensure that happens.
“The military has the presidential mandate to ensure a free, fair and credible governorship election in Edo”, he said.
The Military Chief, who also held a strategic meeting with troops ahead of the election, stated that he was in the state to reassure the electorate that the military would act professionally and work alongside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a violence-free and intimidation-free election.
He warned that any officer attempting to disrupt the election would face consequences.
Additionally, he cautioned against individuals carrying arms to intimidate voters, emphasizing that only authorized security agencies would be permitted to participate in the election.
“What I bring from Abuja is peace and assurance that we will act professionally during the election.
“Election must be free, fair and credible; for this implies that any other person with any other intention other than a peaceful election probably will face the consequences.
“I also want to reiterate, though the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, has said it, that the armed forces will not accept any other individual carrying arms.
“Members of local security networks or vigilantes should stay off the election duties, they are not part of the statutory agencies for election”, he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff, who also cautioned the personnel deployed for the election against any form of compromise, vowed that those who do not adhere to standards would face strict consequences.
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He called for cooperation among the security agencies and emphasized the need for them to create a safe environment for voters to cast their ballots.
“What we have to do is to support the INEC because it is the one conducting the election.
‘The police are the leading agency when it comes to security. So everything we do on security is to support the police to ensure that it is free and fair.
“We have taken part in elections over and over. So this is not going to be a new thing”, he stated. #Tinubu
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