INEC Raises Fresh Security Alarm Ahead Of Edo Governorship Election

INEC has raised fresh concerns over the security situation in Edo State ahead of September off-cycle governorship election.

Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, expressed the concern in his remarks at the third regular quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs) in Abuja, yesterday.

He made a particular reference to the worrisome recent event in Edo State that resulted in the death of a security personnel, announcing that the commission will meet with security agencies on Friday to appraise a security report on the governorship election.

“Campaign by political parties and candidates is in full swing in both Edo and Ondo states. We urge you to intensify your advocacy for peaceful elections, including engagement with stakeholders. The commission finds the recent event in Edo State resulting in the death of a security personnel worrisome. Happily, there has been no incident known to the commission since then.

“Nevertheless, the commission will meet with the security agencies as early as Friday this week under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security. I want to assure you security in Edo and Ondo will be a major issue for discussion at the meeting.

“We are as concerned about the safety of candidates, agents and supporters as we are about the security of our own officials, observers, journalists, service providers and, above all, the voters.

“At the same time, I wish to remind you of your obligation as observers to comply with the objectives of election observation and the code of conduct contained in the commission’s rules of engagement for accredited election observers,” he said.

Reminding the CSOs of their responsibilities for the election, Yakubu said: “At the same time, I wish to remind you of your obligation as observers to comply with the objectives of election observation and the code of conduct contained in the commission’s rules of engagement for accredited election observers.

“I wish to reiterate that the commission reserves the right to revoke the accreditation of any individual observer or observer group that violates code of conduct for election observation,” he said.