By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has posited that the February 12, 2022 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election will be the beacon for a peaceful and credible 2023 General Election.
He has also appealed to all and sundry to ensure that voters in the FCT choose their leaders in a free, fair and peaceful contest.
Professor Yakubu made this call in Abuja on Thursday at a Stakeholders’ Meeting on the 2022 Area Council Elections organised by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) held at FCDA Conference Room, Area11, Garki which was attended by the FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Musa Bello; FCT INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and Heads of Security Agencies in Nigeria.
According to him: “In terms of grassroots democracy, FCT is a leading light in Nigeria with its regular and well-conducted Area Council elections. Each political party has the chance of winning an election in the FCT. Let the 2022 Area Council election be the beacon for a peaceful and credible 2023 General Election”.
The INEC boss however called on stakeholders to work together to ensure that the upcoming election is hitch-free, saying: “Let the 2022 Area Council election be the beacon for a peaceful and credible 2023 General Election”.
Professor Yakubu who used the occasion to brief the stakeholders on the Commission’s preparedness to deliver a free and fair election in less than two weeks assured that INEC is up to speed with its preparation.
Said he: “Before I conclude, let me once again reiterate the importance of peace to the successful conduct of the Area Council elections. For our part, we will protect the integrity of the process. Our eyes are on all our officials, be they ad hoc or regular staff, to ensure that they strictly abide by the rules”.
“All parties, candidates and their supporters should do the same. No one will benefit from the disruption of the process or other acts of bad bahaviour. Let the voters in the FCT choose their leaders in a free, fair and peaceful contest”.
The INEC Chairman expressed his appreciation to the Honourable Minister of FCT for the invitation extended to him to address the stakeholders’ meeting just as he used the opportunity to also invite the Stakeholders to attend the INEC Stakeholders meeting billed for Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.
“At that meeting parties and candidates will commit to peace during the elections”, Professor Yakubu concluded.
Others who attended the Stakeholders’ Meeting are
Members of the National Assembly; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory
Chairmen and Councillors of the Area Councils.
Also in attendance are National Commissioners of INEC; the Resident Electoral Commissioner, FCT; Commissioner of Police, FCT; Members of the FCT Council of Traditional Rulers.
