By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has advised candidates in the Saturday’s forthcoming Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections as well as their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu gave the advice on Tuesday at a meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja.
This is as Yakubu assured of the commission’s improved performance in the elections holding this weekend.
The INEC Chairman told the candidates as well as their agents and supporters to refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of its personnel, observers, the media and service providers.
Prof Yakubu pointed out that INEC is encouraged by the directive to State Commands by the Inspector General of Police to handle all cases of electoral offences expeditiously.
According to the INEC Chairman, “The Governorship and State Assembly elections this weekend involves more constituencies than the national elections held about three weeks ago. “Unlike the last elections involving 470 constituencies (1 Presidential, 109 Senatorial Districts and 360 House of Representatives seats), 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. They are also local elections involving keen contests.
“It is therefore important for parties and candidates to speak to their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war.
“They should refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of our personnel, observers, the media and service providers.
“The Commission is encouraged by the directive to State Commands by the Inspector General of Police to handle all cases of electoral offences expeditiously.
“We look forward to receiving the case files. We will immediately set up a legal team to handle such cases in earnest”, he said.
In his remarks, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, rtd, advised politicians to call their supporters to order to ensure peaceful conduct of Saturday’s election.
Mongonu said individuals who had plans to undermine the election process must have a re-think or face the consequences of their actions.
His words, “While commending the efforts of the various political parties and the individuals that participated in the last election, especially those of them that call for peace, I want to also urge individuals, especially at the state level, to demonstrate the same level of maturity and demonstrate the same level of discipline by calling their supporters to conduct themselves in a manner that is congruous with the expectations of the larger Nigerian society.
“Of course, there are channels for laying complaints and addressing these complaints”, he said.
Mongonu pledged that security agencies would continue to give support to all stakeholders in the election to exercise their franchise and responsibilities.
Commending professional conduct of security personnel in the last election, the NSA advised them to ensure that no individual took law into his hands in the Saturday’s election.
He added, “ So far, so good we do not envisage anything that’s going to be terrible or apocalyptic, in terms of the next few days.
“But that does not mean that we should all do away with our state of readiness. We must comply with the rules; we must also allow everyone to exercise their fundamental rights as citizens of this country.
“What we do not want to happen is for anybody to take the law into his or her own hands”, he stressed.
