The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that it would work with security agencies to deal with ‘unidentified persons’ perpetrating arson and attacking the commission’s facilities.
To this end, the commission has summoned a meeting with security agencies on Monday May 24, 2021.
INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who issued the threat Wednesday at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja stated that the meeting would “take briefings from across the country on threats to INEC facilities and deliberate on how to protect them.”
“The commission will certainly work with the security agencies to deal with perpetrators of these heinous crimes. To this end a meeting with all security agencies is holding Monday May 24 2021,” he said.
While decrying the spate of arson and vandalisation of its facilities, Yakubu stated that “these attacks are no longer freak events but appear to be quite orchestrated and targeted at INEC.”
Describing the attacks as “acts of unjustifiable aggression,” the chairman stated “they may undermine the commission’s capacity to organise elections and dent the nation’s electoral process.”
He stated, “replacing these facilities in the prevailing economic circumstances will indeed be a tall order, thereby adversely affecting electoral services in the same communities.”
The chairman called on “all and sundry, particularly communities where these assets are located, to see themselves as owners and custodians of these facilities and assist the commission in protecting them.”
He commended what he called “the fantastic partnership between the commission and the communities we serve,” adding that “they have over the years supported the commission during all electoral activities from ,CVR to the conduct of polls.”
On the strategic plan of action, the INEC chairman stated that the committee set up to develop the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan has concluded it’s work adding that it’s validation would commence this week.
He disclosed that it’s current strategic plan covering 2016-2021 would expire at the end of the year.
According to Yakubu, “the strategic plan and Strategic Programme of Action would serve as the framework and guiding document for the work of the commission for 2023 general elections and beyond.”
While stressing that the document is a very important one, he appealed to the RECs and all INEC staff to accord the validation process the attention it deserves.
The chairman also said, “the commission has completed the necessary preparations to for the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) commencing on June 28”, noting that “what is left to finalise was the newly established polling units in order to update the registration software to make them available for registrants.”
The INEC boss stated that more work lies ahead as the commission has continued preparations for two bye elections holding 19th June 2021 in Sabon Gari State Constituency in Kaduna state as well as Gwaram Federal Constituency in Jigawa state.
He told the RECs that the commission also awaited the declaration of vacancies by the House Reps for Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in Plateau state and Here Federal Constituency in Kaduna state.
While disclosing that preparation for the November 6, Anambra governorship election and the February 12th 2022 FCT area council elections would be accorded priority, he stressed that the commission will continue early preparations for the 2023 general elections.
To this end, the INEC chairman stated that “the commission has already established an Election Project Plan (EPP) committee to work on the 2023 Election Plan”, adding that “the idea is to complete the plan early enough and make sure we are fully ready for the election, which is now only 640 days away.”