The Department of State Security (DSS) has told politicians in the leading political parties that they were under the department’s security radar ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State.
DSS said it was particularly watching the politicians to know their involvement in any attempt to recruit thugs and move arms into the state to cause violence at the poll.
Speaking in a seminar organised by the Nigeria Police for political party chairmen and other stakeholders, the state Director of the DSS, Ishaku Yusuf, said persons under watch were politicians marked for having the capacity to instigate violence during elections.
The stakeholders’ seminar was spearheaded by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, D.P.Yakadi.
Yusuf said: “On the issue of identification of those intending to perpetrate violent crimes during the elections, that is being done. Those who have the capacity have been put under security watch and homes under surveillance.”.
He, however, lamented that poor attendance of party chairmen and representatives showed their lack of readiness for the poll.
“Another source of worry I have for the coming Bayelsa election is the fact that we have 45 political parties listed for the election but 10 is in attendance here. It shows the security agencies are readier than the owners of the elections”, he said.
In his lecture, Yakadi, identified various factors that could cause electoral violence and advised critical stakeholders including the media, political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to step up preparations and work against corrupt tendencies before, during and after the elections.
Yakadi assured the stakeholders of the preparedness of the zone under his watch to ensure a hitch-free poll.
