The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has implored the leaders of political parties to call their supporters to order.

Yakubu made the call in a recent meeting with political parties on the review of the 2023 general elections which started three weeks ago in Abuja.

He said that leaders of political parties should ensure that they caution their supporters against acts capable of undermining the electoral process.

Yakubu said this in reaction to reports of clashes between supporters of opposing parties ahead of the three states where off-cycle governorship elections will hold on 11th November 2023.

“As we review the general election, we also need to focus our attention on the forthcoming bye-elections and the three off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States,” Yakubu said while addressing party leaders,” Yakubu said.

“For the Commission, we are looking at some of the lessons learnt from the general election to improve our performance in the forthcoming elections.

“We are focusing, among other issues, on election technology, recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, the conduct of some of our regular and ad hoc officials, security issue, logistics in particular and our relationship with other service providers in general.

“I also appeal to party leaders for similar introspection on the conduct of your candidates and their supporters.

“The use of thugs during elections to harass election officials, intimidate voters and disrupt processes, sometimes resulting in the destruction of election materials or even worse must be addressed.”

The INEC boss also spoke about the use of power of incumbency in some states to restrain opposition parties from having access to public facilities for campaign purposes.

“I must also acknowledge the perennial complaints from some political parties that the power of incumbency is used in some States to restrain some parties and candidates from access to public facilities for media campaigns and outdoor advertising through exorbitant fees or outright denial.” Yakubu said.

“This often leads to the mutual destruction of advertising materials such as billboards, resulting in altercation and violence involving supporters of opposing political parties.”

Yakubu last Friday called for improvement in security ahead of the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.

INEC has in the last three weeks engaged with critical stakeholders who participated in the conduct of the 2023 general elections in the country.
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