The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it
identified 270 flashpoints among polling units in Ondo state.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Festus Okoye, INEC national
commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee,
said the identified flashpoints are situated in 62 creeks in the riverine areas
of Ese-Odo and Ilaje local government areas of the state.
Okoye said the commission will, however, deploy security
agents to help prevent the menace of rigging and electoral violence in those
areas.
“The police, navy and other security agencies have been
mandated to engage in clearance operation and flush out groups and individuals
that threaten the peace of the state and the electoral process especially in
the creeks and other black spots,” he said.
“More than 270 of our polling units are in the riverine
areas of Ese-Odo and Ilaje local governments, with over 62 creeks, and we are
in touch with the Nigerian navy and the marine police for the purpose of
protecting and escorting our personnel and materials to these difficult
terrains.
“The security agencies will carry out mop up operations,
deploy adequate platforms and conduct massive show of force, especially in
identified flashpoints. We will continue to appeal to the political parties and
the candidates to eschew violence.”
He also said section 29 (3) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as
amended) gives the commission the power to request the assistance of any
section of the armed forces for the delivery and protection of its staff and
materials during elections.
“We shall therefore request for the assistance of the navy
for escort in the riverine areas, and the army will block the entrance and exit
out of Ondo state on election day,” he said.
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