By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Apparently aware of the high rate of violence that characterises elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to governorship candidates in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states to call their supporters to order to avoid increasing cases of violence in the states.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at the quarterly consultative meeting with Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) for post- election review, said such violence always results in altercation and destruction of properties.
Yakubu therefore urged all political parties participating in the November 2023 off-cycle election to advise their supporters to avoid the use of thugs to disrupt election processes.
The INEC boss said the Commission is reviewing some of the lessons learnt from the general elections to improve performance in the forthcoming elections.
Said he: “I also appeal to party leaders for similar introspection on the conduct of your candidates and their supporters. The use of thugs during elections to harass election officials, intimidate voters and disrupt processes, sometimes resulting in the destruction of election materials or even worse must be addressed”. READ ALSO:
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“Campaign in public by parties and candidates in the three States commenced on 14th July 2023 as provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Governorship elections. Sadly, there are already disturbing reports of clashes between opposing parties with claims and counter claims of innocence or culpability. These claims help no one. Call your supporters to order”.
“At the same time, I must also acknowledge the perennial complaints from some political parties that the power of incumbency is used in some States to restrain some parties and candidates from access to public facilities for media campaigns and outdoor advertising through exorbitant fees or outright denial. This often leads to the mutual destruction of advertising materials such as billboards, resulting in altercation and violence involving supporters of opposing political parties”.
Responding to INEC Chairman’s Remarks, IPAC Chairman, Engr.Yusuf Sani Yabagi, who spoke on behalf of the political parties, advised the Commission to ensure that the Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) and Returning Officers (RO) are not pressured by some Governors and INEC itself to falsify results in their states, stating that equity, fairness and justice should prevail.
Yabagi also encouraged the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that is ongoing not to be swayed by emotions or technicalities, but base their judgment on well-reasoned interpretation of the law.
