The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to security agencies to 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 at the forthcoming bye-elections and the three off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made this appeal today at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) on the review of the 2023 General Election at INEC Headquarters, in Abuja.
Professor Yakubu said already, there are ominous signs in the form of violent clashes between opposing political parties and candidates but INEC still maintain strict neutrality as campaigns in public in the three States commenced on 14th July 2023 and will continue until Thursday 9th November 2023, that is, 24 hours to the opening of polls on Saturday 11th November 2023.
"Election is a multi-stakeholder activity. Although INEC drives the process, a secure environment for the conduct of peaceful elections is the responsibility of the security agencies working in partnership with the Commission. The synergy enabled us to overcome many of the challenges prior to the 2023 General Election, including the targeted attacks on INEC offices nationwide.
"Indeed, the concern that the perennial insecurity in some parts of country before the election may make our deployment of personnel and materials, and consequently the conduct of polls, impossible did not materialise. 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." he noted.
Responding, Mr Nuhu Ribadu, who doubled as the Co-Chairman of ICCES and the National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on assure Nigerians and INEC of adequate security of electorates, INEC Personnel in the forthcoming bye-elections and the three off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.
Ribadu said, all security agencies will synergise and work together tonprotect lives and properties before and after the elections.
Dignitaries at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) were the National Security Adviser and Co-Chair of ICCES, the Acting Inspector General of Police, Heads of Other Security Agencies, National Commissioners, Senior Officials of the Commission