The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa on Wednesday said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has no favourite candidate in the next Saturday Governorship election in Edo State.
Newspot reports that the Chief of Defence disclosed this at a meeting with the stakeholders, including INEC, Police and other security agencies in Benin City.
Musa said the President’s favourite will be the person the electorate in the state elected as their governor.
According to him, we want this election to be the most peaceful. That is the mandate from Mr. President.
“Mr President 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 had a strategic meeting with troops ahead of the election, added that he was in the state to assure the electorate that the military would be professional and join the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure an election free of violence and intimidation.
He, however, warned that any officer who tried to disrupt the poll would bear the consequences.
While also warning individuals against carrying arms to intimidate the electorate, he noted that only the statutory security agencies would be allowed 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 warned the personnel of the forces deployed for the election never to compromise, vowed that any personnel who compromises would surely face the music.
He, however, sued for cooperation among the security agencies.
He also noted that the security agencies must provide an enabling environment for the electorate to cast their votes.
“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.
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