Polls threatened, INEC warns

• Published date: 10 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said elections may be postponed in flashpoints, if the situation does not improve.

The Commission warned that the results of the 2023 polls may not be declared if elections are cancelled in many constituencies as a result of worsening insecurity.

However, the electoral umpire did not mention the areas where polls may not hold as scheduled.

INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, while speaking at the validation of election security training resources in Abuja, observed that nexth month's election faces serious threat of cancellation if the security situation across the country fails to improve.

Yakubu, who was represented by the Chairman, Board of Electoral Institute, Abdullahi Zuru, said 'if the insecurity is not monitored and dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder declaration of elections results and precipitate constitutional crisis.'

The Commission however, assured that it is not leaving anything to chance in ensuring that intensive and extensive security are provided for election personnel, materials and processes.

Mahmood said: 'We all appreciate the fact that election security is vital to democratic consolidation through the provision of enabling environment for the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections and thus strengthening the electoral process.

'This is particularly significant to the commission, given the current insecurity challenges in various parts the country and the fact that the National Youth Service Corps members constitute the core of the Polling Unit Election officials.

'This must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen.

'Therefore, security personnel in particular and all election officials in general must be security conscious and alert to unusual activities in their environment and must be fully equipped to deal with any challenge at all times'.

Attacks on the Commission's offices, personnel and other critical facilities, have assumed a disturbing dimension, especially in the Southeast part of the country.

In Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi states, INEC offices have been razed by hoodlums and gunmen, resulting in the death of personnel and massive destruction of election materials.

The attacks seem to be more prevalent in Imo State, where four offices, including the state headquarters, were attacked by gunmen in less than three weeks.

In the attack on...