By Abubakar Yunusa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has emphasized that conducting elections in the states of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi presents unique challenges in Nigeria.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu conveyed this during a meeting on Friday with the National Security Adviser to the President, Nuhu Ribadu, as well as the Commission’s national commissioners and other members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Yakubu cited the daunting geographical terrain and the existing security concerns that have been exacerbated by negative mobilization efforts by political actors, particularly since the commencement of the public campaign on July 14, 2023.
“We urge politicians to call upon their candidates and supporters to maintain order. It is imperative that violence and other undemocratic activities, such as vote buying, attacks on election officials, and disruptions of the electoral process, come to a halt,” he stated.
However, the ultimate responsibility for election security lies with the security agencies. Yakubu’s message to them is clear: they must take decisive action against those responsible for electoral violence.
“This is the most effective way to ensure a secure environment for the peaceful conduct of elections and electoral activities. While performing their electoral duties, security personnel should remain neutral and adhere to established professional codes of conduct and rules of engagement.”
Yakubu also revealed that the three states have a combined total of 5,409,438 registered voters, with 5,169,692 of them having already collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). Eligible voters will cast their votes in all 10,510 polling units.
“Election results will be collated in 649 Registration Areas/Wards, 56 Local Government Areas, and three State collation centers. This results in a cumulative total of 11,178 voting and collation locations where security personnel will be deployed in the three states.
“This deployment is in addition to ensuring a secure environment for the ongoing campaigns and rallies conducted by political parties and candidates, the security of voters, the escorting of personnel and materials, the protection of assets, and the overall security for all individuals with legitimate reasons to participate in the election and electoral activities,” he concluded.
