The All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated the Intelligence and Security Directorate of its Presidential Campaign Council, with the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, charging members to prioritise the safety of party members during electioneering campaigns.
Yilwatda, who was represented by the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Prof. Abdulkarim Kana, gave the charge on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of the committee.
He commended the committee for beginning its work early, noting that it was the first subcommittee to convene a meeting and establish operational structures ahead of the main campaign council.
“This committee, I think, is the most hero-studded committee of all the committees. And you’ve proven yourselves to be most serious,” Yilwatda said.
He added that the committee deserved recognition for taking the initiative before funding allocations were made to the various directorates.
“Even before the finance committee started to think of how much to allocate to the directorates, you organised yourselves. I must commend you,” he said.
The APC chairman stressed that the committee had a critical responsibility as campaigns approached, particularly in ensuring the safety of members and supporting the smooth conduct of campaign activities.
The Director of Intelligence and Security, retired Gen. Sarkin Bello, described the assignment as a national responsibility requiring discipline, sound judgement and commitment to protecting the campaign’s principal and upholding the democratic process.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that the campaign communicates the President’s record, priorities and vision accurately with dignity and with respect to the Nigerian electorate,” Bello said.
The Minister of Defence and secretary of the directorate, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, also underscored the importance of security to the campaign’s success.
Musa said opposition parties were likely to focus on the economy and insecurity in their criticism of the Tinubu administration, making it important for the campaign team to communicate the government’s achievements effectively.
He urged members to provide an enabling environment for peaceful campaigns and work with the Information Directorate to address misinformation, particularly on social media.
Musa also stressed the need for unity among members, warning that divisions could undermine the directorate’s objectives.
“Working as a team is the most critical aspect for us, because if we’re divided, we can’t achieve anything,” he said.
—By Lawrence Agbo
