The Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu on Monday has lamented the spate of attacks during electioneering campaigns by political parties and damages in the recent attack on INEC offices in Ogun and Osun States.
He said the attack resulted into destruction of 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 8 electric power generators, 57 election bags, 30 megaphones, and host of other assorted items such as stamps and stamp pads.
INEC Chairman disclosed this at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) emergency meeting held at INEC Headquarter in Abuja.
Prof Yakubu said attack in in Ede South was minimal, that of Abeokuta South was extensive. He said attacks on INEC Local Government Area offices in Abeokuta South in Ogun State and Ede South Local Government office in Osun State happened around 1.15am in Abeokuta South while that of Ede happened around 6.00am yesterday Thursday 10th November 2022.
He said, the Commission is taking urgent steps to repair the damage to the building and replace the facilities in the Ede South Local Government Area and staff in Ogun State will move to the old State office (also known as INEC Office Annex) in Oke-Ilewo area of Abeokuta.
"All activities involving the 15 Registration Areas (Wards) and 445 Polling Units in Abeokuta South Local Government Area will henceforth be coordinated from the new location in Oke-Ilewo", he said.
Consequently, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State has been directed to compile the Voter Identification Numbers (VINs) of all the 65,699 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) lost in the attack from our database and submit the record for immediate reprint. We want to assure affected registered voters in Abeokuta South that no one will be disenfranchised as a result of this dastardly act.
"Turning to the spate of physical attacks during the ongoing political campaigns and rallies, the Commission has so far tracked 50 incidents across 21 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
"These unhappy occurrences are coming just a little over one month into the election campaign which is scheduled to last for about five months from 28th September 2022 to 23rd February 2023 for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) and from 12th October 2022 to 11th March 2023 for State elections (Governorship and Houses of Assembly)", he said.
Prof Yakubu noted that election is a multi-stakeholder activity involving not just INEC and the security agencies. The political class plays perhaps the most critical role in ensuring peaceful elections. "We must all rise to the occasion. Nigerians are watching us. The world is watching us. We must never disappoint them".
The Commission reassure Nigerians to remain committed to delivering credible elections in spite of the challenges. He said, the attempt to sabotage or weaken our resolve will not deter us from conducting transparent elections in which only the votes cast by Nigerians on Election Day will determine winners of elections.
The emergency meeting was attended by the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, heads/Representatives of Various Security Agencies, National Commissioners, and Other Members of ICCES.