Babagana Monguno, the national security adviser, advised lawmakers on Thursday not to deploy thugs to incite violence during the general elections in 2023.
At a ministerial media briefing hosted by the presidential communications team at the State House in Abuja, Monguno warned that anyone who advocates violence at political gatherings would be subject to the full force of the law.
He claimed that security personnel had been ordered to ensure that the elections went off without a hitch.
Monguno said: “One thing I can assure you is, the president has given clear directives. The people’s will must prevail. What happened in Anambra or Osun and Ekiti is what we want to happen all over the country.
“Let the people choose their leaders. Whoever they want, then later, they can decide. But in the process of electing who governs them, we must be mindful of the fact that there are people who are hell-bent on forcing to do their bidding.
“I have given a clear warning that any politician who engages in any unpalatable activity — the use of thugs, and I know we have a lot of political thugs, straining at the leash, foaming at the mouth, desperate to bite and taste blood — we are going to apply everything within the powers of the government.
