The Association of Igbo Town Unions issued the warning on Friday in a statement by its National President, Chief Emeka Diwe, calling on the security agencies on duty in those states not to allow themselves to be used to subvert the electoral process during the November 11, 2023 governorship polls in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa.
It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to use the three governorship polls to redeem its image among Nigerians and the international community and conduct free, fair and credible elections in the three states.
The association urged the security agents to work within the confines of their constitutional duty of protecting lives and property, stressing that the activities of security personnel during elections had left bitter experiences in the psyche of Nigerians and the international community.
It faulted the roles played by INEC and security agencies during the last presidential election and other elections in Imo State and other parts of the federation, where voters suffered intimidation and election results declared by the electoral body could not reflect the will of the people.
The group noted that most Nigerians now see INEC as an interested party in every election because of its failure to keep its promises of organising free, fair and credible elections in the country, despite the introduction of technological innovations in election management.
It therefore urged INEC to use the three governorship polls as an opportunity to maintain neutrality and prove to Nigerians and the international community that it was capable of organising free, fair, credible and acceptable elections.
“INEC has a big task to ensure that it redeems its image and cleanse itself of the very negative impression Nigerians and the international community have about it. It behoves this electoral institution to maintain its neutrality and discharge its duty without fear or favour, but with the fear of God,” the group added.
