ELECTION SECURITY: INEC Solicits Support of Security Agencies to deliver credible elections in Anambra State ……As ICCES Meet Ahead of Anambra, Isoko South Elections.
Oru Leonard
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has solicited the support of the security agencies to enable the Commission deliver credible elections in the November 6, Anambra Governorship Election and the Isoko South I State Assembly Constituency this weekend.
Prof. Yakubu who made who made the demand on Thursday at the third quarterly meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), said the focus of the meeting was the Anambra State Governorship election holding on 6th November 2021.
He told the ICCES that arrangements have been made to replace all lost movable materials during thea on its State office in Awka which resulted in extensive damage to the building and destruction of critical facilities for the election.
He said the Commission plans to introduce a new voter accreditation technology during the Anambra Governorship election, called the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which has the capability for both the fingerprint and facial biometric accreditation.
“Over the last three days, we have explained and demonstrated how the new device will work during our consultative meetings with political parties, civil society organisations and the media. We will do the same at this meeting.
“I must also add that we have concluded arrangements to pilot the new device this weekend in the Isoko South I State constituency bye-election in Delta State”, he stated.
While speaking through Mr. Sanusi Galadima who representedt, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Co-Chair of ICCES, Babagana Monguno, acknowledged the successes recorded in recent bye-elections in some constituencies across the country which he attributed to the synergy between INEC and members of ICCES as well as other stakeholders, and expressed hopes to consolidate same in subsequent polls.
He warned that the Federal Government will not tolerate any group or persons planning to impede smooth conduct of elections, especially the Anambra Election.
“With the prevalence of security threats occasioned by different dissident separatist groups in the Southern region of the country, who are bent on scuttling efforts of government in achieving national cohesion and undermining the democratic processes in the country, the Federal Government of Nigeria will not tolerate any group or persons planning to impede smooth conduct of elections.
“While acknowledging the constitutional rights of citizens to freely express their legitimate grievances within the ambits of the law, it is also important to state that the Federal government will not abdicate its constitutional responsibility of securing lives and property as well as a secure environment for citizens to pursue their legitimate means of livelihood”, he said adding that the his office will ensure adequate deployments before, during and after the polls,
