By John Ugo, Awka
The Anambra state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has deployed over 1,000 personnel for Saturday’s general elections in the state.
The Command also disclosed that officers of the NSCDC would provide assistance in the discharge of their election duties and to ensure uninterrupted presence in all the over 5000 polling units across Anambra state.
The State Commandant, Isidore Chikere stated this in an interview with newsmen in Awka the state capital.
He said the command was fully prepared for the elections, maintained that officials of the NSCDC would ensure that the electorate got equal treatment at the polling centres when they come out to cast their votes for their choice candidates.
Chikere warned that no NSCDC official would escort any party candidates or treat any individual preferentially while on election duty because NSCDC according to him, is non-partisan and remains neutral in the discharge of her constitutional assignment to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Chikere said those detailed for election duties had been properly trained and made to understand that they were security agents who must l observe the rules of standard operations while discharging their duties.
He said part of their responsibilities would be to ensure that there is orderliness, peace as well as crowd control at the voting centres.
The NSCDC Commandant noted that there is hope that the elections would be peaceful despite pockets of security threats from hoodlums.
According to him, he mentioned that the NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies have embarked on road shows across Anambra state to sensitise the people that there is no cause for alarm and that they should come out to exercise their voting rights on the election day.
He reiterated that those detailed for election duties have been properly briefed on why they should be civil with Nigerians at various polling stations while ensuring orderliness.
He said that over one thousand officers have been deployed for the elections from the Anambra command comprising officers that will man polling booths, patrol teams and at checkpoints to restrict unwarranted movements during the elections.
