INEC cautions politicians ahead of governorship polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has urged the political parties and candidates to speak to their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war.
The Commission also urged them to refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of personnel, observers, the media and service providers.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu who stated this in Abuja during a meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, to review preparations for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections explained that this weekend’s election would involve larger Constituencies.
‘’The State elections will involve 1,021 constituencies (28 Governorship and 993 State Assembly seats). There will also be more candidates involved and more collation centres to protect’’, he said.
Professor Mahmoud said that INEC offices at the State levels had given the Nigeria Police Force, the delimitation details for both the Governorship and State Assembly elections, including locations of Polling Units and Collation Centres for a coordinated deployment plan in synergy with other security, intelligence, law enforcement and safety agencies.
On electoral offences, the INEC Chairman also pointed out that they would be treated expeditiously and that the Commission would immediately set up a legal team to handle such cases.
Governorship election not holding in 8 States.
He said the Governorship elections would take place in 28 States of the Federation because Governorship elections in eight States (Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun States were held off-cycle but that, elections would be conducted for all the 993 State constituencies nationwide.
Professor Yakubu also said that the Commission met virtually with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in which they reviewed preparations for the State elections in addition to election technology, logistics, and security.
Responding, the National Security Adviser, Retired General Mohammed Mungonu said the Security Personnel were ready to provide a level playing ground for all Contestants in the election,
General Mungonu also called on Politicians to play according to the rules in the interest of all.
Reporting by Ogochukwu Okoronkwo; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu