The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, has raised alarm over the growing tension surrounding the November 16 gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa state.
The commission noted that both States have started showing early signs of violence as pressure mounts on ahead of the governorship polls.
The chairman of the commission Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this to newsmen on Friday at the quarterly meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security ICCES in Abuja.
Yakubu said “There are already warning signals in the two States. Both are politically volatile. Elections have been severally disrupted by violence in the past. Our own risk assessment which will be shared with the security agencies at this meeting has identified some flash points. We are also concerned that thugs have been mobilised from within and outside the States with the aim of either influencing the elections or disrupting the process on behalf of partisan sponsors. This calls for a robust response before the elections, on Election Day and during the process of collation and declaration of results. Nigerians expect that by now we have learnt enough lessons from previous elections to ensure a swift security response to the increasing desperation by political actors to disrupt elections and subvert the will of the electorate. If that happens, many Nigerians will blame the electoral umpire and the security agencies. We must continue to rise to this challenge.”
The INEC boss also disclosed that the commission had taken measures to reveal security in both Kogi and Bayelsa state and how best to promote peaceful elections.
He said “doing so means providing security that will guarantee the safety of voters; protection of INEC officials (both regular and ad hoc staff); unimpeded movement, including access to polling units and collation centres for election officials, accredited polling agents, observers and the media; effectively and dispassionately dealing with disruptive behaviour by some political actors and persons acting on their behalf; enforcement of the restriction of movement in both States on election day; and the prompt arrest and prosecution of offenders”.
Yakubu also stressed that INEC was committed to conducting a free and fair election in both states.
He said “I am glad that we are joined at this meeting by our Resident Electoral Commissioners for Bayelsa and Kogi States as well as the Commissioners of Police for the two States. They will brief us on the level of electoral and security preparations in the two States. We will also discuss and finalise the security deployment plan for the two elections in line with the provision of Section 29 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) so that the security agencies are not perceived to be running parallel arrangement with INEC. Rather, it should be INEC’s plan for the election that we should all be implementing.
“We shall continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure peaceful and credible polls. On Thursday 7th November 2019, the Commission is organising another meeting with stakeholders in Bayelsa State to be followed by another meeting on Monday 11th November 2019 in Kogi State. We will be joined by the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of NYSC and representatives of all the security agencies to listen to the concerns of stakeholders and fine-tune our plans in full consultation with the stakeholders.”
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