The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, has urged the security operatives to take decisive action against perpetrators of electoral violence in the November 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
Yakubu spoke at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting on Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections held on Friday at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja.
The INEC Chairman who is the co-chair of ICCES noted that Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi were not the easiest States in Nigeria to conduct elections because of their difficult geographical terrain and prevailing insecurity.
These according to Yakubu were compounded by negative mobilisation by political actors, especially since the commencement of the campaign on July 14.
“Ultimate responsibility for election security lies with the security agencies. Our message to the security agencies is to take decisive action against perpetrators of electoral violence.
“This is the surest way to guarantee a safe environment for the peaceful conduct of elections and electoral activities.
“In doing so, security personnel on electoral duty should remain neutral and committed to the established professional code of conduct and rules of engagement,’’ Yakubu said.
He called on politicians in states where the election would take place to call their candidates and supporters to order.
The INEC Chairman said that violence and other undemocratic activities such as vote buying, attacks on election officials and disruption of the electoral process must stop.
He disclosed that out of the 5,409,438 registered voters in the three states, 5,169,692 had collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).
Yakubu who said that two polling units in Bayelsa and 38 in Imo were without registered voters, added that eligible voters were expected to vote in all the 10,510 polling units in their states
“Similarly, election results will be collated in 649 Registration Areas/Wards, 56 Local Government Areas and three state collation centres.
“This gives us a cumulative figure of 11,178 voting and collation locations to deploy security personnel in the three states.
“This is in addition to ensuring a secure environment for the ongoing campaigns and rallies by political parties and candidates, security of voters, the escort of personnel and materials, protection of assets and general security for all persons with a legitimate reason to participate in the election and electoral activities.
Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has assured Nigerians that Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi off-cycle governorship elections would be conducted without any form of interference.
He said that the security agencies would work with INEC to ensure that the election was free, fair and credible.
“We want to give assurance to Nigerians that this election will be even better than what we have had in the past. This election is going to be free and fair.
“This election will be without interference. This election is going to be without violence. This election is going to be credible.
“It is going to be a litmus test for us. Three important states, one in the North-Central, one in the South-East, one in the South-South and we are ready.
“We will provide what it takes to provide credible elections and we are impressed with the preparations we have seen from INEC and we will work together. Collectively it is our responsibility to deliver,’’ he said.