JUST IN :Nov Gov Elections: Yakubu Urges Security Agencies To Move Against Purveyors Of Violence
Nov Gov Elections: Yakubu Urges Security Agencies To Move Against Purveyors Of Violence
By Nathaniel Gana
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called on security agencies to take a decisive action against purveyors of violence and other undemocratic activities such as vote buying, attacks on election officials and disruption of the electoral process, ahead of the Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo governorship elections, scheduled for 11th November 2023.
He made the call at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to review the 2023 General Election, held on Friday 28th July in Abuja.
Prof. Yakubu, who described an election as a multi-stakeholder activity, also observed that while the Commission drives the electoral process, the security agencies, in partnership with the Commission, are responsible for securing the environment for the conduct of peaceful elections.
The INEC Chairman affirmed that the cooperation and synergy between the Commission and members of ICESS enabled the former to overcome many challenges prior to the 2023 polls, including series of targeted attacks on its offices nationwide.
He observed that the concerns expressed by many, that the perennial insecurity in some parts of country before the election would make the deployment of personnel and materials difficult, and consequently the conduct of polls impossible did not materialise.
He said: “We wish to place on record our appreciation to the security agencies and other members of ICCES for the largely peaceful conduct of the polls.”.
Prof. Yakubu urged the participants from various security agencies and other co-opted Federal Government entities to draw lessons from the challenges of the 2023 polls for improved performance, not only in the next General Election but also in the bye-elections, eight off-cycle Governorship elections and other electoral activities to be held over the next three years.
Speaking on the tasks ahead, the INEC Chairman said; “as we review the conduct of the last general election, we also need to focus our attention on the forthcoming bye-elections and the three off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.
“Campaigns in public in the three States commenced on 14th July 2023 and will continue until Thursday 9th November 2023 i.e., 24 hours to the opening of polls on Saturday 11th November 2023. Already, there are ominous signs in the form of violent clashes between opposing political parties and candidates.”
He continued: “while maintaining strict neutrality, security agencies should take decisive action against purveyors of violence and other undemocratic activities such as vote buying, attacks on election officials and disruption of the electoral process.”
On his part, the National Security Adviser and Co-Chair of ICCES, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, commended the Commission for conducting one of the most peaceful and successful elections in the country.
He assured that the federal government was committed to working with INEC to ensure that elections got more secured. He said the government would continue to provide all that is necessary for the protection of men and materials for elections.
The NSA further recommended that the ICCES meeting be held more frequently to engender more synergy among committee members.
Also in attendance were the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; National Commissioners; Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony; Technical Aides to the INEC Chairman; and other top management staff of INEC.
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CREDIT. INEC NIGERIA.
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