2023: INEC fears more attacks on facilities

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, during an emergency meeting with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, Friday, said the spate of attacks during electioneering campaigns by political parties is increasing rather than decreasing.

Yakubu noted that “a peaceful campaign heralds a peaceful election. We need to take decisive steps to stem the ugly trend.”

While decrying the spate of attacks on INEC offices and political parties in the run up to the 2023 polls, he said the commission has so far tracked 50 incidents of attack across 21 states of the federation and Abuja during the ongoing political campaigns and rallies.

His remarks followed simultaneous attacks on INEC facilities in Abeokuta South in Ogun state and Ede South Local Government office in Osun State, which occurred around 1:15am and 6.00am on Thursday respectively.

Speaking on the extent of damage on the facilities, the INEC chairman said while the damage in the attack in Ede South was minimal, that of Abeokuta South was extensive.

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He added that materials destroyed include 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 8 electric power generators, 57 election bags, 30 megaphones, 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, and a host of other assorted items such as stamps and stamp pads.

According to him, the commission has come to the conclusion that the attacks may not be isolated, but has however left that determination to the security agencies who are investigating the incidents.

Reading the Riot Act to politicians and their thugs, National Security Adviser (NSA), General Mohammed Monguno (retd.), said President Buhari has instructed him to convey his directives to the defence, security, intelligence and paramilitary services to be firm in stemming the tide of violence.

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Monguno said; “There are issues that have emerged. From my statistics, I am aware of the fact that within a period of one month, from October 8 to November 9, we have had 32 cases of violence across 22 states. This is a bad signal. This is something that we do not want to continue.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to safeguarding and upholding democracy. The president has also given his directive through me to all the operating intelligence and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the 2023 elections are held in an atmosphere bereft, devoid of any rancour.”

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Monguno, who vowed to deal ruthlessly with violent individuals, said security agencies will unleash a shocker against perpetrators of violence.

Earlier, the Inspector General of Police IGP, Usman Alkali, said he had directed all his commissioners to scale up security in and around INEC offices nationwide.

“I have directed all Commissioners of Police (CPs) to ensure that the protection of all INEC offices is scaled up. We need to look at the whole thing as essential.”