INEC raises security concerns over Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi polls

• Tells parties, candidates to rein in their supporters

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has expressed serious concern about the spate of insecurity and violence, including clashes among supporters of Political Parties and candidates in the next month”s (November 11) governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States.

The Commission raised the alarm in a statement on Sunday by it’s

National Commissioner and Chairman,

Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Sam Olumekun to provide update on preparations for the three off season elections.

The Prof Mahmood Yakubu led-INEC recalled that it has, in its engagements with political parties, constantly called on parties to rein in their supporters from actions capable of jeopardizing the peaceful conduct of elections in Nigeria.

The Commission earnestly appealed to all Political Parties and candidates to avoid utterances and acts that may heat up the polity.

INEC vowed that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and sustain its engagement with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure a peaceful conduct of elections in the three States.

According to the statement by Olumekun, “The Commission is concerned about the spate of insecurity and violence, including clashes among supporters of Political Parties and candidates in the forthcoming elections. “In our engagement with Political Parties, the Commission has constantly called on parties to rein in their supporters from actions capable of jeopardizing the peaceful conduct of elections in Nigeria.

“INEC earnestly appeal to all Political Parties and candidates to avoid utterances and acts that may heat up the polity.

“The Commission will continue to closely monitor the situation and sustain its engagement with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure a peaceful conduct of elections in the three States”, it said.

The Commission however noted with sadness that despite the fact that it notified all Political Parties of the opening of its online portal for the upload of the list of polling units and collation centre agents, which commenced on Thursday 24th August 2023 and also engaged party representatives on the methodology for a seamless process and subsequent reminders, Political Parties are yet to substantially comply by submitting the list of their agents.

According to the statement, “For Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States, only 55% of the expected total of 189,180 polling unit agents have been uploaded to the designated INEC Portal.

“Specifically, 29,278 out of the expected 40,372 (72.5%) for Bayelsa State; 51,681 out of 85,644 (60.3%) for Imo, and 23,720 out of 63,144 (37.6%) for Kogi State have been uploaded.

“Similarly, only 25.1% of the expected 15,804 Collation Agents in the three States have been uploaded: 1,246 (26.0%) out of 4,806 for Bayelsa; 1,638 (27.3%) out of 5,994 for Imo, and 1,095 (21.9%) out of 5,004 for Kogi State.

“The Commission hereby wishes to further remind Political Parties that the portal will automatically shut down at 12:00 midnight on Tuesday 10th October 2023. There shall be no extension.

“Consequently, all parties sponsoring candidates for the elections that are yet to upload the list of their agents should do so before the deadline for the exercise”, it said.

Speaking on the issue of Online Accreditation of Journalists ahead of the three governorship elections, INEC said, “The online accreditation of Journalists commenced on 24th August 2023 and will close on 22nd October 2023.

“So far, 45 media organisations have applied for accreditation.

“The Commission also wishes to use this medium to encourage all interested Media organisations to take advantage of the remaining window to apply on imap.inecnigeria.org before the deadline on 22nd October 2023.

“For emphasis, late applications will not be entertained and there is no provision for manual accreditation anymore”, the Commission said.