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The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) will continue to work with security agents to ensure violence-free elections, it said in a statement on Thursday.

We are working with law enforcement and security agencies involved in election security to identify gaps, strengthen our collective preparedness and ensure that future elections are safer and conducive. The statement added.

The office said following the meeting of the Inter-Agencies Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held in Abuja. The Office of the National Security Adviser supports election security coordination, identify challenges and strengthen national capacity to ensure the safety of the electoral process.

It explained that the National Security Adviser Maj. Gen Babagana Munguno did not condemn the gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States and is not in any position to do so. There is no difference between the position of the Nigeria Police Force and the Office of the National Security Adviser on the recent polls. Both agencies have condemned the unfortunate death of Mrs Salome Abuh, in Kogi State.

The Nigeria Police has already made arrests and all security agencies are working to identify other perpetrators of election violence for prosecution. Neither the ICCES nor the Office of the National Security Adviser is in a position to pass verdict over the validity of gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States as some reports suggest.

Only the courts are empowered by law to determine issues arising from the conduct of the elections. The planning and management of the electoral process is a continuous undertaking and through the ICCES, we are identifying the challenges recorded in the recent polls and working with all stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes of future polls are improved.

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NSA Office working with police, INEC on polls - The Nation Newspaper