The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has urged political parties to warn their supporters against violence ahead of the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at INEC election quarterly review meeting with political parties, Yakubu expressed concern about the increasing cases of pre-election violence by political parties, hence, the need to address the issue.
The INEC chairman said, “I appeal to party leaders for 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.
“Campaign in the public by parties and candidates in the three states commenced on July 14, 2023, as provided in the timetable and schedule of activities for the governorship elections.
“Sadly, there are already disturbing reports of clashes between opposing parties with claims and counter-claims of innocence or culpability. These claims help no one. Rein in your supporters.”
Yakubu, however, said INEC would apply lessons learnt from the last general elections to improve on the forthcoming off-cycle elections.
“As we review the general elections, we also need to focus our attention on the forthcoming by-elections and the three off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
“For the commission, we are looking at some of the lessons learnt from the general elections 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,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yabagi Sani, advised the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to base its judgment on a well-reasoned interpretation of the law.
Sani said, “Two major opposition parties – the PDP and the Labour Party – as well as three other political parties, disagreed with the outcome of the elections and have since gone to the Presidential Elections Petitions Court to challenge the outcome of the election, in line with the norms and values of the electoral process. We commend them for following the path of law.
“However, we really hope that the decision of the court will not be based on some perverse public policy rationale or technicalities, but, rather, on reasoned and reasonable interpretation of substantive and procedural law. What Nigeria needs now is fairness, equity and justice.”
