INEC urges security agents to synergize  during the Governorship and State Assembly elections

Oru Leonard 

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Nigeria, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has urged security agents to synergize  during the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

Speaking during the meeting with Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICESS), on Tuesday Professor Mahmood Yakubu told the security operatives that the commission is expecting a coordinated deployment plan in synergy with other security, intelligence, law enforcement and safety agencies.

Professor Yakubu who noted that the Governorship and State Assembly elections involves more constituencies than the national elections held about three weeks ago, said the State elections will involve 1,021 constituencies (28 Governorship and 993 State Assembly seats). This will also involve more candidates and more collation centres to protect.

“As I welcome you to this meeting, I wish to express the Commission’s appreciation to the security agencies and other members of ICCES for the professionalism of personnel and the generally peaceful conduct of the elections. We look forward to improved performance in the elections holding this weekend”, he said.

Yakubu also advised parties and candidates to speak to their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war; to refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of our personnel, observers, the media and service providers.

Also speaking, the National Security Adviser to President Muhammad Buhari, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), commended the security agencies and other intelligent organisation on the conduct of last election but urged them to put more efforts in ensuring that Saturday, March 18 election is conducted in a free, fair and credible without rancour.

“I have been talking with the Inspector General of Police who is the head of the leading agencies on the way election arrangements should be made despite the fact that they is no any threat but must be vigilante in case of unforeseen circumstances”, he said.

He added “though, we did not envisaged any threat or issues concerning the Saturday election that is going to be terrible or violence but we must not fold our hands and do nothing at all in case of unforeseen circumstances.

“We must make sure every Nigerians exercise his or her franchise without hindrance of any kind. And we must not allow anyone to undermined the electoral processes.”