The Presidency on Tuesday alleged that there are plans to scuttle the 2019 elections.
The allegation was levelled by the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).

Monguno said the plot was uncovered through intelligence reports that some elements within the polity were out to cause widespread violence during and after the forthcoming general elections.

Speaking at an emergency meeting summoned over the development with the Nigerian Governors Forum in Abuja on Tuesday, the NSA said the Federal Government is concerned.

The meeting had 21 state governors in attendance as well as the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu; and the Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi.

Monguno said government is concerned that some individuals, who were not sure of their fate in the coming elections, were plotting widespread crises aimed at scuttling the conduct of the polls.

According to him, the present administration is taking proactive steps and measures to ensure peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.

He said government has, therefore, banned the use of private security and vigilante groups across the country during the election.

He expressed concerns that the strategy being employed by people, who did not mean well for the country, is to instigate crises that could snowball into endless crises for the present administration and the citizenry.

The NSA urged the governors to partner with security agencies to ensure that the conduct of the elections is peaceful and credible all over the country.

He assured that the security agencies would not only remain neutral, but maintain high level of professionalism and vigilance during elections.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of the NGF, Abdullaziz Yari, said the Forum and President Muhammadu Buhari are on the same page that the coming election is not a do or die affair.

Yari said the Forum would partner with security agencies across the country to deliver credible elections.

He said: “We are prepared to partner with security agencies to ensure that the process is credible and that the elections are acknowledged as free and fair by both local and international observers.”

Yari, who was flanked by his colleagues while presenting a two-page communique issued by the forum at the end of the meeting, said the governors hailed the NSA’s Office for organising the meeting.

He, however, expressed concern over the spate of kidnapping and arms proliferation in the country.

He said: “Members of the Governors’ Forum are committed to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that the forthcoming elections are free, fair and conducted in an environment conducive for peaceful elections.

“Governors are, however, concerned about the proliferation of arms and ammunition and the spate of kidnapping across the country.

“The Forum recommends stronger collaboration and intelligence sharing among security agencies in the country to ensure that all lives and property are protected, regardless of individual or group affiliations.

“Lastly, we seek stronger synergy between Governors, as the Chief Security Officers of their respective states, and the heads of security agencies to strengthen preemptive measures of curbing election violence and other anti-social vices.”