Supplementary Elections: We Expect High-Level Cooperation From Security Agencies – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called
for improved synergy with various security agencies in the country
during the supplementary election to be held in some states.

Mr Festus Okoye who is INEC’ National Commissioner, Information
and Voter Education, made the call on Monday during his appearance
on Sunrise daily, a breakfast programme on Channels Television.

“We are ready for this particular election, and we expect that
things will go well,” he said.

He added, “We also expect high-level cooperation from the
different security agencies that will be involved in election
security so that at the end of the day, people will know that a
good election has been conducted.”

The INEC official gave the assurance that the exercise would be
free and fair while the results would not be interfered with.

He urged the electorate to come out and vote for the candidates
of their choice, noting that only their votes would determine the
outcome of the election in their areas.

Mr Okoye also called for the support of various stakeholders in
the election, especially the political parties to ensure the
process go smoothly.

He, however, warned that INEC would not tolerate any form of
electoral malpractice in its resolve to conduct an election that
the people would be proud of.

“We want to conduct a supplementary election that Nigerian
people will be proud of; we want to also conduct a supplementary
election that meets the expectations of all the critical
stakeholders in the electoral process,” the national commission
said.

“What we demand is that the political parties should rain in
their members and also make sure that they act in accordance with
lay down rules and procedures for the conduct of elections.”

The supplementary election will take place on March 23 in
Adamawa, Benue, Kano, and other states where the governorship poll
was declared inconclusive.