FLASH POINTS IDENTIFY IN BAYELSA, KOGI AHEAD OF GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS-ELECTORAL COMMISSION
The commission boss said this was part of the main issue of discussion at the meeting to review of security situation and security arrangement for the election holding at the same time in the two States, and expressed concerned that thugs had been mobilised from within and outside the States with the aim of either influencing the election or disrupting the process on behalf of partisan sponsors.
“This calls for a robust response before the election, on election day and during the process of collation and declaration of results. Nigerians expect that by now we have learnt enough lessons from previous elections to ensure swift security response to the increasing desperation by political actors to disrupt elections and subvert the will of the electorate.
“If that happens, many Nigerians will blame the electoral umpire and security agencies. We must continue to rise to this challenge. On our part, INEC is committed to the integrity of the process,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that, Yakubu said the commission had met a couple of times with the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, being the lead agency in election security, adding that ‘in these meetings, we reviewed the security situation in Bayelsa and Kogi and how best to secure the environment to enable the commission conduct free and fair election’.
“Doing so means providing security that will guarantee safety of voters; protection of INEC officials, unimpeded movement, including access to polling units and collation centres for election officials’, he stated.
“These include protection of accredited polling agents, observers and the media; effectively and dispassionately dealing with disruptive behaviour by political actors and persons acting on their behalf. Enforcement of the restriction of movement in both states on election day and the prompt arrest and prosecution of offenders,” he said.
