INEC, NSA warn parties, supporters against violence ahead of guber

The INEC Chairman urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to see the election as a contest, not war.

• Monguno, the NSA, also made the appeal, in addition to the INEC Chairman’s statement.

• “Refrain from acts of violence,” the INEC Chairman said.

Political parties and their followers have been advised to abstain from violence in the last days leading up to the March 18 governorship and house of assembly elections.

The request was made on Tuesday during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Major General Babagana Monguno, the national security adviser.

Yakubu urged political parties, candidates, and their supporters in particular to view the election as a contest rather than a conflict.

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He wants them to “refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of our personnel, observers, the media and service providers.”

“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,” he added.

While thanking security agencies for the professionalism of their personnel and the largely peaceful conduct of the presidential election, he said INEC state offices have provided the police with the details for the governorship and state assembly elections, including locations of polling units and collation centres.

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.

The Polls

The governorship elections will only take place in 28 States, in contrast to the countrywide presidential and national elections on February 25.

Due to off-cycle elections, eight states — Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun — are excluded.

In order to guarantee a smooth election, INEC would work with security agencies to include all 1,021 constituencies in the State elections.

ENIGERIA NEWSPAPER