Guber poll: INEC, NSA read riot act, warn against violence

• Igini: BVAS didn’t fail, it put an end to exaggerated election results
• 2023 elections fascinating, positive, says outgoing British envoy

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship and state Assembly elections, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, have warned politicians and their supporters against causing mayhem that might disrupt the smooth conduct of the polls.

The NSA specifically vowed that the Federal Government would deal decisively with anyone who attempts to disrupt the March 18 polls.

The duo gave the warning, yesterday, during the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja.

Yakubu, who called on political parties and their members, to remain peaceful during and after the elections, said Saturday’s election would be more intense and a bit complicated.

According to him, unlike the first round of elections involving 470 constituencies, Saturday’s election will involve 1,021 constituencies.

The INEC boss said the election would require more collation centres and will need the deployment of more security personnel.

His words: “ Governorship elections will hold in 28 states. Governorship elections in eight states (Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun) are held off-cycle and therefore not conducted during the general elections. However, elections will be conducted for all the 993 state constituencies nationwide.

“Our state offices have made available to the Nigeria Police Force, being the lead agency in election security, the delimitation details for the elections, including locations of Polling Units and Collation Centres. On that basis, we expect a coordinated deployment plan in synergy with other security, intelligence, law enforcement and safety agencies.

“Unlike the last election involving 470 constituencies (1 Presidential, 109 Senatorial districts and 360 House of Representatives seats), the state elections will involve 1,021 constituencies (28 governorship and 993 state Assembly seats). There will also be more candidates involved and more collation centres to protect.

“They are also local elections involving keen contests. It is, therefore, important for parties and candidates to speak to their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war. They should refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of our personnel, observers, the media and service providers,” he said.

On his part, Monguno urged politicians, especially at the state level to demonstrate equal level of maturity and discipline by calling their supporters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

“Anybody thinking to undermine the process should please think again because that won’t be in his or her interest or the nation’s interest.”
MIKE Igini, a former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned optimally in the presidential election, despite observed technical glitches.

INEC had extended the voting time beyond 4:00p.m. in some places to make up for the time lost. However, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also cited BVAS failure as one of the factors that affected the efficiency of the election.

But commenting on the concerns during an Arise TV interview yesterday, Igini said it was incorrect to say BVAS failed. He said findings from an ongoing review of previous elections showed that the BVAS significantly reduced exaggerated figures from being uploaded.

“The BVAS, as I said and I will repeat and reiterate here, functioned. The BVAS delivered, BVAS won. It’s grossly incorrect to suggest that BVAS failed at the just concluded presidential election.

“The BVAS put an end to the invidious figures that were posted in several parts of the country in previous elections.”

THE outgoing British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has described the presidential and National Assembly elections as fascinating and offered future assurance for democratic governance in the country.

The British envoy made the declaration at the Senate wing of the National Assembly, yesterday, while fielding questions from journalists after a courtesy call on the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

She said despite contestation on the process of the election by some political actors, it was fascinating and portends bright future for the country.

She said: “I made very good friends. I love Nigerian music a lot. The culture here is so rich. The politics in Nigeria is so fascinating. I was here till the last election and I finished with this election and I’m impressed with Nigeria’s democratic journey.

“Yes, a bit of setback, but overall, I see this as positive and Nigeria should be proud, but with a remarkable difference when I came in 2019.”

She added: “Nigeria is the biggest democracy in Africa. The world watches your progress to democracy.

“Though there were some disappointments in the last election, overall, every Nigerian should be proud because since 1999, Nigeria has been on the right track as far as participatory democracy is concerned.

“The election here is very different and fascinating as you are moving to a three-party system or maybe even four. I think Nigerians as well should realise that their votes count,” she added.

The Senate President, in his remarks, commended the British envoy on her positive disposition to the country. He tasked her with help in strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Britain.

Also, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, poured encomiums on Laing for her selfless service and collaborative efforts with the Nigerian Parliament during her five-year assignment in the country.

Gbajabiamila said during her term, she provided a lot of support to the House, which he said was helpful to the Parliament.