CANDIDATES WHO USE VIOLENCE WILL BE ARRESTED—–INEC
Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said that the only way to curb election violence in the country is to arrest anybody who violates the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, through incitement, violence and other negative mobilization.
Speaking on friday in Abuja at the third quarterly meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) he said that collaborative effort to invoke Sections 92 -93 of the Electoral Act 2022 to arrest and prosecute violators is the best option to stop the menace of electoral violence.
He expressed dismay over attacks amongst political parties at campaigns and denial of access to public facilities for electioneering activities stressing that such actions are prelude to violence on election day and beyond.
He recalled that at a previous consultative meetings, leaders of political parties complained about the denial of access to public facilities and exorbitant charges in some states for the use of such facilities for the dissemination of their campaign materials, messages and rallies.
He pointed out that “These attacks and denials are a violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and ominous signs of what will follow as the campaigns enter critical stages. They may also be a prelude to violence on Election Day and beyond. We should tackle the smoke before it snowballs into a major inferno,”
He also said that one of the worrisome practices which ICCES has to contend with is vote buying and selling at polling units on election day by desperate individuals.
The INEC boss disclosed that the commission is working on harmonising its Election Risk Management (ERM) and Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT) for a more effective risk assessment and mitigation measures ahead of the general election.
He commended the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their operations in previous elections saying that the important lessons from governorship elections in some states will help INEC’s planning for the 2023 general election.
He further said that the commission will continue to share information with the security agencies and most importantly, work together to ensure that elections hold peacefully nationwide as scheduled.
Speaking at the meeting, National Security Adviser NSA, Gen. Mohammed Monguno Rtd condemned the violent dimensions of utterances and attacks among politicians.
Saying that their actions signal potential threats to the smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections in February 2023.
Represented by Sanusi Galadima, he said that he expects the second phase of the signing of ‘Peace Accord’, by the National Peace Committee (NPC) scheduled for January 2023, to be fruitful in de-escalating the violent trend.
He said that his agency is strategizing on steps towards ensuring peaceful campaign and conduct of the general elections.
