‘We’ll No Longer Condone Violence’ — INEC Talks Tough Ahead Of Abia, Delta Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it
will no longer tolerate issues of violence during elections.

The electoral commission had on Saturday suspended the Ekiti
East constituency bye-election following the outbreak of violence
in various polling units in the LGA.

In an interview with NAN on Sunday, Festus Okoye, INEC’s
national commissioner, said the decision to suspend the
bye-election was to preserve the integrity of the exercise.

“These measures are necessary to preserve the integrity of
elections and the life and safety of voters, election officials and
security personnel on election duty,” Okoye said.

“INEC will never condone electoral banditry aimed at
discrediting the electoral process and retuning predetermined
outcomes.

“To buckle under the pressure of organised, coordinated and
mindless violence will lead to and amount to surrendering the
sovereign democratic rights of the people to clean elections, and
the suzerainty of anti-democratic forces.”

He urged security agencies to take proactive measures to curb
potential threats ahead of the Aba North/South federal constituency
election in Abia state.

The Abia election has been scheduled for March 27, while the
Isoko North bye-election in Delta will hold on April 10.

Okoye said: “As the commission prepares for the conduct of the
two by-elections, we urge the security agencies to proactively
carry out comprehensive security clearance operations in the two
constituencies and neutralize potential threats to the conduct of
clean elections in the constituencies.

“The commission will not stake or mortgage the life and security
of any official on election duty and that of the voters, in the
face of a contrived atmosphere of fear, anxiety and violence.

“It will be unconscionable and amount to dereliction of its
electoral duty for the commission to proceed with any election in
the face of brazen violence that has compromised the integrity of
an election.

“The organisation and conduct of elections require long term
planning, resources and mobilisation, therefore, the commission
cannot engage in endless conduct of elections on account of the
activities of merchants of violence and electoral bandits.

“It is important for the commission to complete the expansion of
voter access to polling units, as this will give expression to the
true value of the vote and make voting less cumbersome for the
Nigerians.”

The INEC commissioner noted that the electoral body will soon
resume the continuous voter registration exercise and capture those
that have attained the age of 18.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it
will no longer tolerate issues of violence during elections.

The electoral commission had on Saturday suspended the Ekiti
East constituency bye-election following the outbreak of violence
in various polling units in the LGA.

In an interview with NAN on Sunday, Festus Okoye, INEC’s
national commissioner, said the decision to suspend the
bye-election was to preserve the integrity of the exercise.

“These measures are necessary to preserve the integrity of
elections and the life and safety of voters, election officials and
security personnel on election duty,” Okoye said.

“INEC will never condone electoral banditry aimed at
discrediting the electoral process and retuning predetermined
outcomes.

“To buckle under the pressure of organised, coordinated and
mindless violence will lead to and amount to surrendering the
sovereign democratic rights of the people to clean elections, and
the suzerainty of anti-democratic forces.”

He urged security agencies to take proactive measures to curb
potential threats ahead of the Aba North/South federal constituency
election in Abia state.

The Abia election has been scheduled for March 27, while the
Isoko North bye-election in Delta will hold on April 10.

Okoye said: “As the commission prepares for the conduct of the
two by-elections, we urge the security agencies to proactively
carry out comprehensive security clearance operations in the two
constituencies and neutralize potential threats to the conduct of
clean elections in the constituencies.

“The commission will not stake or mortgage the life and security
of any official on election duty and that of the voters, in the
face of a contrived atmosphere of fear, anxiety and violence.

“It will be unconscionable and amount to dereliction of its
electoral duty for the commission to proceed with any election in
the face of brazen violence that has compromised the integrity of
an election.

“The organisation and conduct of elections require long term
planning, resources and mobilisation, therefore, the commission
cannot engage in endless conduct of elections on account of the
activities of merchants of violence and electoral bandits.

“It is important for the commission to complete the expansion of
voter access to polling units, as this will give expression to the
true value of the vote and make voting less cumbersome for the
Nigerians.”

The INEC commissioner noted that the electoral body will soon
resume the continuous voter registration exercise and capture those
that have attained the age of 18.