Ahead of the supplementary elections holding Saturday, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, has called on security services invited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to assist with the conduct elections, to conduct themselves in a non-partisan and professional manner.
In a statement to the media Friday in Abuja, which was jointly signed by the convener of the group Mr Clement Nwankwo, alternate chairs Y.Z Yau and Esther Uzoma, the group said that security agencies need to demonstrate their commitment to non-partisan support to electoral security.
They said INEC should ensure that the supplementary elections are conducted in a free and fair manner, as well as to ensure that it’s processes are respected and implemented.
The group also expressed optimism that logistics for the elections are in place and that the collation of results would be conducted in a transparent manner.
The group, however, alleged that “courts have become involved in electoral litigations and disputes in a manner that weakens the credibility of the electoral system by issuing perplexing orders”, even as they expressed concerns about “the damaging disrespect for courts and credibility of elections”.
The statement read in part: “As the 2019 general elections concludes, Situation Room will be observing the supplementary governorship elections to be conducted by the INEC in Bauchi , Benue , Kano , Plateau and Sokoto states.
“Situation Room and it partner Organisations will be deploying observers to the Polling Units where elections will be conducted and follow-up with the collation of results.”
