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…. Sets to release revised code of conduct for security
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu has projected that about 95 million Nigerians are expected to vote during the exercise.
Yakubu, made the projection at the opening ceremony of an election security management training organised by the Nigeria Police Force, yesterday in Abuja.
The INEC Chairman similarly disclosed that the commission has produced a revised code of conduct for security personnel during elections.
The next year’s general elections, according to him, “involves a projected voter population of about 95 million for the 2023 General Election which is over 20 million more than the combined voter population of the other 14 countries in West Africa.”
Yakubu adds, “Voters will also elect candidates for 1,491 constituencies (1 Presidential constituency, 28 Governorship elections, 109 Senatorial Districts, 360 Federal Constituencies and 993 State Assembly seats).”
The INEC Chairman informed the various security agencies at the seminar that ensuring the safety and security of voters, election personnel and materials, candidates, party agents, observers, the media and transporters are enormous.
According to him: “This responsibility has become more challenging in the context of the current security situation in the country.
“Election preparations, deployment and implementation constitute the most extensive mobilization that could happen in a country, whether in peacetime or in wartime.
“In Nigeria, it involves the recruitment and training of staff and managing the logistics for their deployment to 176,846 Polling Units spread across 8,809 electoral Wards, 774 Local Areas and 37 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”
Furthermore, the INEC boss pointed out that he is glad that the Nigeria Police, as the lead agency in election security, has once again demonstrated its leadership role by convening this Workshop.
“With about seven months to the next General Election, there is time for proactive measures to ensure that the entire country is secure for elections to be held nationwide.
“In addition to physical security, I am glad to note that this Workshop will also focus on deepening the capacity of the security personnel to imbibe and comply with global standards of election security management”, he stressed.
Yakubu revealed that the Commission, under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), has, already, produced and periodically revised the code of conduct and rules of engagement for security personnel on electoral duty.
In view of this, he said, “In the next few weeks, the code of conduct as well as our training manuals will be revised to align them with the provisions with the Electoral Act 2022 and to consolidate on the professionalism displayed by the security agencies in the recent off-cycle elections.
“We will also intensify our cascade training for security personnel ahead of the 2023 General Election.”, he stated.
The INEC Chairman assured the Inspector General of Police that the Commission will continue to work in synergy with Police to ensure a safe and secure environment for the 2023 General Election.
While describing the next year’s general election as a critical election, Yakubu adds, “we must all continue to work together to protect the will of the Nigerian people”
The INEC Chairman however appealed to the Police Management to extend the training to the zones and states of the federation, adding “I am also glad that the initiative does not begin and end here in Abuja but extended to the six geo-political zones.
“The Commission supports this laudable initiative and will fully participate in the training workshops nationwide.”
