Election: Group canvasses heavy security deployment to Gombe State

By Peter Uwumarogie

 

A group, Human Rights and Public-Interest Legal Practitioners, has canvassed for heavy deployment of security personnel to Gombe State, avert breach of the peace during the forthcoming elections.

Mr Luka Haruna, the Spokesperson of the group made the call during a press briefing in Gombe on Tuesday.

Haruna said the deployment would boost citizens’’ confidence to come out and exercise their civic rights without fear on election day.

According to him, such deployment will also curb vote-buying and any other plan to compromise the electoral process.

He said that the group, which has more than 100 members, was concerned about the toxic political atmosphere in the state.

“We are expressing the concerns of our people across the state,” Haruna said, adding that adequate security should be provided for polling units.

“There should be proper monitoring to avert any harm to the electorate on the day of election.

“Also, keen attention should be paid to combat vote-buying, bribery and inducement of voters to vote for or against any political party,” the group spokesman said.

Haruna called for immediate restoration of security checkpoints across the state which were recently dismantled on the orders of the state government.

“We are calling for the dismantled checkpoints to be restored with immediate effect to help improve security before, during and after the elections.”

Haruna called on security agencies to investigate a leaked audio of a leading politician in the state planning to manipulate the electoral process.

“We are calling for proper investigation of the alleged plan, to help avert the impending manipulation of the electoral process and bring to justice all persons found wanting.

“The right to vote and be voted for is a constitutional right which all citizens of Gombe state are entitled to exercise and that right should be rightly exercised without any restriction,” he said.

(NAN)