On the road to the November 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has alerted to waves of insecurity that could affect smooth conduct of the exercise.
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission , Professor Mahmood Yakubu ; National Commissioners: Barrister Festus Okoye and Prof. Kunle Ajayi during a post-election review meeting with returning officers in Abuja… . PHOTO: LUCY LADIDI ATEKO
Even military usurpers did not burn down homes and offices of politicians and political parties. They employed very persuasive speeches to advertise their messianic mission. And their messages resonated well. But these politicians have nothing to sell. God forbid that they mislead the country along that former route.
Two weeks ago, the Commission again reminded parties to rein in their supporters. In a statement signed by its National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the Commission charged parties and candidates to avoid actions and utterances that could heat up the polity. The point was reinforced last Friday by the INEC chair.
On the number of persons killed, there are different accounts, depending on who recorded the counting. According to the Centre for Democracy and Development , no fewer than 109 persons were killed in election-related crimes in the three months linked to the election across the country. The situation is made more pathetic for families of victims who were brutally killed for daring to exercise their voting right or those that offered to serve the country as in the case of INEC staff who were killed.
In Imo, during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise of 2022, INEC had to suspend the exercise after its official, Nwokorie Anthony, was killed and two others declared missing at NkwoIhitte in Amakohia Ward RA02 of IhitteUboma local council area. The two were later rescued. Bayelsa was not spared the spate of electoral violence but the scale was mild, perhaps for the obvious reason that there was no contest for the governorship. Yet, there were reports of destruction of ballot materials in four Wards of Constituency Two in Ogbia local council area during the State Assembly election. Materials for Ogbia Wards 2, 3, 4 and 5 were reportedly carted away by armed men.
Avoid stage-managed inconclusive elections. Watch out for actors who will export violence into districts where opponents have voting advantage in the hope to reap from the penalty.
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