The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has urged members of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES to take decisive action against perpetrators of electoral violence.
Yakubu who was speaking during review of the 2023 general election, held at the on Friday at INEC headquarters abuja, said, 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.
“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. Already, there are ominous signs in the form of violent clashes between opposing political parties and candidates.
“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. ”
He said, “The meeting today is a combination of both our regular consultative engagement and a review of the 2023 General Election. The Commission has been engaging with our staff and critical stakeholders for the review of the election. In fact, this is the seventh meeting since the commencement of the reviews about four weeks ag on 4th July 2023.
“As you are aware, 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.
Yakubu welcomed the National Security Adviser and Co-Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu. On behalf of ICCES,
He said ‘I wish to extend our congratulations to you on your appointment. Your personal presence at this meeting is also an affirmation of your commitment to peaceful elections in Nigeria. I would like to similarly extend our congratulations to the recently appointed Service Chiefs, the Acting Inspector-General Police,
“the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), his counterpart in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and all other heads of agencies who are attending this meeting in substantive or acting capacities for the first time.”
