With political campaigns entering critical stage, Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called for effective collaboration between the commission and security agencies to address the menace of political violence.
According to INEC, it would partner with security agencies to arrest and prosecute violators of the law.
He noted that the acts of violence during campaigns may be a prelude to violence on Election Day and beyond, hence the need to “tackle the smoke before it snowballs into a major inferno.”
The INEC Chairman made the call at the opening of a third quarterly consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), held on Friday at the INEC headquarters, Abuja.
Yakubu, who also doubles as the Co-Chairman of ICCES, said, “It is exactly a month since the commencement of campaign by political parties on September 28th, 2022, yet the incidents of physical attacks on supporters and destruction of campaign materials across the country are worrisome.”
“At our consultative meeting two days ago, leaders of political parties in Nigeria also complained about the denial of access to public facilities and exorbitant charges in some states for the use of such facilities for the dissemination of their campaign materials, messages and rallies.”
“These attacks and denials are a violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and ominous signs of what will follow as the campaigns enter critical stages. They may also be a prelude to violence on Election Day and beyond. We should tackle the smoke before it snowballs into a major inferno.
“The effective enforcement of our electoral law is the best way to deal with the menace. We should work together to ensure the arrest and prosecution of violators of the provisions of the Electoral Act, especially Sections 92–93 of the Electoral Act 2022.
On his part, the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno (rtd.), and Co-Chairman of ICCES, commended the tireless efforts of all security agencies in maintaining peace and order during the ongoing electioneering campaigns across the states.
The NSA, who was represented by Mr. Sanusi Galadima, observed the violent dimensions of electioneering campaigns, which characterise attacks on campaign rallies, political campaign offices, as well as the passing of uncomplimentary remarks and uncouth utterances
among politicians, witnessed in some states, signalling potential threats to the smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections in February, 2023.
“While security agencies strategize on new measures to counter the rising wave of violence in the polity, the NSA hopes that the second phase of the signing of the “Peace Accord” by the National Peace Committee (NPC), scheduled for January 20, 2023, will be fruitful in deescalating the violent trend,” the NSA said.
