INEC to collaborate with security agencies to ensure hitch-free elections

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano State on Saturday said it would collaborate with security agencies to ensure a hitch-free elections in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Alhaji Minkaila Abdullahi, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Saturday.

Abdullahi said that INEC would work with various security agencies in the state, adding that the commission had constituted a committee on security headed by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Aderenle Shinaba.

‘’All other security agencies like the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) are members of the committee.

“So, we hold meetings regularly to assess the level of security situation on ground in the state.

‘’During the meetings we map out strategies for measures to be taken to ensure the safety of the ad hoc staff and the election materials,” he said.

He expressed happiness that the security situation in the state had improved tremendously, adding that the commission was doing everything necessary with the security agencies to ensure peaceful elections in the state.

The REC disclosed that by the policy of the commission, each polling unit would be allocated no fewer than three security personnel during the elections.

“Therefore, we are deploying thousands of security personnel at all the polling units to ensure the safety of the ad hoc staff, INEC materials and the public,’’ he said.

He revealed that military personnel would also be used during the election but not at the polling centres.

He said that the military would patrol around that areas where polling would be conducted and would only be at the polling centres when there were crises and they were called.

‘’Even, the other security agents that will be deployed at the polling units will not carry arms,” he added.

He assured that rigging would not be recorded during the elections, because the entire election process would be transparent, saying that all stakeholders would be involved to make it credible.

Abdullahi called on the public, especially the politicians, to avoid inflammatory statements during the elections.

He also called on youths not to allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians to achieve their ambitions. (NAN)