Electoral Violence: What INEC Boss Told Party Leaders At Kogi, Bayelsa, Imo States

Afimag.com –

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has urged political party leaders to call their Candidates and supporters in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States to order as Campaigns Commence.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu stated this on July 25, 2023, in Abuja during a meeting with Leaders of 19 registered Political Parties in the Country.

Professor Yakubu said the call is eminent as the Commission had received several reports of clashes among opposing Parties.

According to him, the issues of the using thugs during elections to harass election officials, intimidate voters and disrupt the processes must be addressed by the parties.

He explained that, the complaints from some political parties that the power of incumbency was being used in some States to restrain some parties and candidates access to public facilities for media campaigns and outdoor advertising through exorbitant fees or outright denial would be discussed at the next meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) scheduled later this week.

He noted that the meeting was to review the 2023 General Election with a view to using lessons learnt to better future elections.

Professor Yakubu also said the Commission was focusing on Election technology, recruitment hoc staff, security issues, logistics and their relationship with service providers.

In a remark, the Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC ,Alhaji Yagbaji Sani commended INEC for the introduction of technology during the 2023 General Election but urged them to ensure that the technologies works optimally during the forthcoming Governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States.

Alhaji Sani said that Political Parties would support the Commission to ensure the conduct of free fair and credible Governorship elections in November.