INEC Sues For Peace, Order, Ahead Of Governorship Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC has urged leaders of political parties to call their Candidates and their supporters in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States to order as Campaigns Commences for the November Governorship Election.

INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu stated this in Abuja during a meeting with Leaders of the nineteen registered Political Parties in the Country.

Professor Yakubu said the call became necessary as the Commission had been receiving reports of clashes between opposing Parties with claims and counter claims of innocence and culpability.

He also told them to address issues of the use of thugs during elections to harass election officials, intimidate voters and disrupt the processes.

The INEC Boss said that complaints from some political parties that the power of incumbency was being used in some States to restrain some parties and candidates access to public facilities for campaigns and outdoor advertising through exorbitant fees or outright denial would be discussed at the next meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) scheduled later this week.

He said the meeting was to review the 2023 General Election with a view to using lessons learnt to better future elections.

Professor Yakubu also said the Commission was focusing on Election technology, recruitment of adhoc staff, security issues, logistics and their relationship with service providers.

In a remark, the Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Alhaji Yabagi Sani commended INEC for the introduction of technology during the 2023 General Election but urged them to ensure that it works optimally during the forthcoming Governorship election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States.

Alhaji Sani also said that Political Parties would support the Commission to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible Governorship elections in November.

Kayode Oyedare