92 days to the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has, again, raised the alarm over the level of insecurity in the country as well as attacks on its personnel, offices and materials.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu specifically lamented that the perennial insecurity in the country is a source for concern to the commission.
ItProf Yakubu raised the alarm yesterday in his remarks at the stakeholders’ Forum by the Nigeria Civil Society situation room held at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) conference centre, in Abuja.
The INEC Chairman pointed out that the existing security challenge was compounded by the unfortunate incidents of attacks on campaigns, rallies and processions across all political parties.
According to him, “there are four broad areas that Nigerians would like to receive assurances of the progress the Commission is making and challenges (if any) being encountered.
“They are security, campaign finance, technology, the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and assurances that their votes will count on Election Day.
“On security, the Commission has said repeatedly that it is an area of concern. The Commission has the responsibility to conduct elections.
“However, securing the environment for the deployment of personnel and materials as well as the peaceful conduct of elections is a shared responsibility involving the security agencies, the political actors and their supporters, the media and all other critical stakeholders.
“The perennial insecurity in the country is a source for concern.
“This existing challenge is compounded by the unfortunate incidents of attacks on campaigns, rallies and processions across all political parties.
“Although the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties are clear, the Commission has found it necessary to remind political parties, candidates and their supporters on the provisions of the law and their responsibilities.
“Accordingly, tomorrow (today, Thursday 24th November 2022), the Commission will release a summary highlighting the legal provisions governing the conduct of political rallies, processions and campaigns.
“This will be uploaded to our website and social media platforms”, he said.
Yakubu explained that beyond the provisions of the law, the Commission held an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the wake of the recent condemnable attacks on INEC Local Government offices in Ogun and Osun States.
Far-reaching resolutions, he pointed out, were arrived at, including the deployment of joint security teams to our facilities nationwide.
The INEC Chairman added, “Beyond that, the Inspector General of Police summoned an extraordinary meeting with leaders of political parties on the imperative of peaceful campaigns.
“We will continue to follow up on that bold step in our engagement with political parties and other critical stakeholders”, he stated.
On the issue of campaign finance, Yakubu stated that the Commission is determined to tackle the matter frontally
His words, “Areas of violation include party and candidate expenditure beyond what is provided by law and the diabolical practice of vote buying at polling units on Election Day.
“Here again, the Commission will tomorrow (today, Thursday 24th November 2022) publish a summary of the guidelines on finances and election expenses of parties and candidates.
“Beyond that, we are mobilising every national institution with the responsibility for tracking and combating the illicit flow of funds as well as the broadcast and print media regulatory agencies to confront the problem head-on.
“The details of this will be unveiled shortly”, he said.
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