The Department of State Services has requested that voters behave peacefully during the byelections on Saturday.
In 26 states around the nation, elections will be held by the Independent National Electoral Commission to fill a variety of open political seats.
Ebonyi, Yobe, Kebbi, Lagos, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau, and Akwa Ibom are the states in question.
The remaining states are Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Katsina, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, and Zamfara.
The DSS encouraged the public and political parties to refrain from taking any activities that could lead to a breakdown in law and order in a statement released on Friday by Peter Afunanya, director of public relations and strategic communications.
“Participating political parties and the electorate are urged by the service to behave well both during and after the exercises in the affected states on February 3, 2024, rerun and bye-elections. Additionally, politicians and their supporters should make an effort to follow the electoral act and procedure.”
In addition to reassuring the public that the service would work with INEC and other security agencies, among other stakeholders, to ensure a painless exercise, the statement cautioned the public commentators, media, and civil organizations against propagating divisive narratives or tendencies that could jeopardize national security.
In a similar vein, discordant inclinations and false narratives that could jeopardize national order are discouraged in the media, civil society, and community-based organizations.
The statement said, “It is undeniable that people, organizations, or corporate entities can pursue and realize their lawful businesses and aspirations only if there is a livable country.”
However, the service declared that it would not hold back in subjecting anyone found wanting to the full force of the law.