The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it would no longer tolerate any
attempt by politicians to hold its officials hostage and force them to declare
winners of elections under duress.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood
Yakubu, gave the warning at the meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee
on Election Security (ICCES) ahead of Saturday’S elections, held at the
commission’s headquarters on Thursday in Abuja, NAN reports.
He said that where such abduction
occurs, the commission would not issue Certificates of Return.
Yakubu said that the commission
was worried over the rate of attacks on its personnel and the loss of lives and
election materials recorded during the Feb. 23 Presidential and National
Assembly elections
“The Commission is concerned that
many of our materials, including ballot boxes, voting cubicles, voters’
registers and Smart Card Readers were lost to acts of hooliganism and thuggery
in the elections held two weeks ago.
“Most worrisome is the attack on
electoral officials. Some of our staff were abducted and taken hostage in an
attempt to disrupt elections or influence the outcome.
“In fact, some of the
supplementary elections I referred to earlier were caused by such acts of
thuggery.
“I am confident that working
together with the security agencies, we will consolidate on the largely
peaceful conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections while also
taking decisive steps to deal with the minority of violators intent on
disrupting the conduct of peaceful elections.
“However, the commission will not
tolerate the act of holding our officials hostage and forcing them to declare
winners under duress.
“Where such occurs, the
Commission will not reward bad behaviour by issuing them Certificates of
Return.’’
Yakubu expressed the Commission’s
appreciation to the security agencies for securing the environment during the
national elections.
He noted that in the course of
securing the elections, the security agencies, electoral officials and innocent
Nigerians suffered needless attacks resulting in casualties including deaths
and loss of personal and official properties.
“On behalf of the Commission, I
extend our deepest condolence to the families of those who lost their lives,
including personnel of the security agencies. We are glad that the Police have
made several arrests and investigation is ongoing.
“I wish to assure Nigerians that
the Commission will work closely with the Police to ensure the diligent
prosecution of all violators of our electoral laws.
“Citizens are asking for effective
but non-intrusive protection before, during and immediately after the elections
in which their rights are respected and their choices safeguarded.’’
Yakubu expressed optimism that
the Saturday’s election would open by 8 am. going by arrangements already put
in place by the commission.
“On Saturday March 9, Nigerians
are once again going to the polls to elect Governors in 29 States, 991 members
of Houses of Assembly in all the States of the Federation, 6 Chairmen as well
as 62 Councillors for the Area Councils in the FCT.
“A total of 1,082 candidates will
be elected by citizens across the country. Learning from the experience of the
Presidential and National Assembly elections held two weeks ago, the Commission
has effectively tackled the challenge of logistics.
“Materials for the election have
been delivered to all States and the FCT. Movement to the Local Government
Areas will be completed today.
“By Friday, all materials and
relevant personnel will arrive at the Registration Area Centres (RACs). With
this arrangement, we are confident that all polling units will open at 8.00 am
nationwide.”
Yakubu disclosed that INEC had
also reconfigured its Smart Card Readers for the elections on Saturday, saying
the use of the card readers was mandatory and there will be no exemption to
their deployment for accreditation of voters.
“Under our Regulations and
Guidelines, there are clear penalties for the deliberate failure to deploy them
on the part of our staff.
“Where such happens with the
connivance of communities, the result of election in the polling unit(s) will
be cancelled and zero vote recorded.’’
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