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The Hon. Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has urged Political Party Leaders in Edo State to avoid violence and play by the rules. He emphasized that Nigeria’s electoral process has evolved, stressing that resorting to violence will not benefit any party or candidate in leveraging the electoral process.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made this call during a meeting with Leaders of Political Parties and Members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at the INEC State Office in Benin City, Edo State on Friday, 31st May 2024.
He commended the Political Parties for their peaceful conduct since the campaign ban was lifted on 24th April 2024. However, he expressed concern over the reported incidents of shootings at some Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) Centers in the State.
Prof. Yakubu said, “I wouldn’t be tired of advising Political Parties to obey the rules of the game. Violence doesn’t pay anybody anywhere, and in this day and age, there is no way you can take advantage of the process through violence. We have demonstrated it before in 2016 when there was tension towards the election, also; in 2020 there was tension but the elections were conducted peacefully.”
“It appears to me that the Political Parties in Edo State have taken it a notch higher that the build-up to 2024 will be peaceful. The conduct of the election will be peaceful and the conclusion of the election will be peaceful. “
The INEC Chairman noted that under his leadership, the Commission has successfully conducted two consecutive governorship elections in Edo State. He acknowledged the commitment of parties and their candidates to the process through their past peaceful conduct and urged them to replicate this act in the upcoming governorship election on 21st September 2024.
Quoting the Chairman “I want to remind you that this Commission in particular has had a long-standing experience in handling governorship elections in Edo State. This is going to be our third governorship election in Edo State. I was here in 2016 ahead of the governorship election, I was here nearly 4 years ago in 2020 ahead of the last governorship election, and I’m here again ahead of the forthcoming governorship election”
“I must commend political parties so far, that the build-up to the 2024 governorship election in Edo State has so far been the most peaceful. I know what we went through in 2016 when the election had to be postponed, and I also know what happened in 2020, it was as if the world was coming to an end in Edo State.
“But you will also agree with me that in the aftermath of the governorship election, citizens of Nigeria in Edo State started dancing on the streets over the professional manner with which the election was conducted.”
Prof. Yakubu reiterated INECs neutrality in the electoral process, stating that “INEC has no candidate in this election, we are not a political party. The last two elections were actually won by two different political parties, so the next election will actually be won by one of you sitting there. Only the people of Edo can determine who becomes their next governor and we will make sure that their choices are protected,” he added.
The INEC Chairman encouraged the Party Leaders saying, “We have done it before, let’s continue to keep the peace and do it peacefully. I must tell you that I am encouraged by the atmosphere so far. The ban on campaigns was lifted on the 24th of April 2024 and we are now going into June, and so far; so good, but let us maintain the peace. “
Addressing the instances of violence recorded during the ongoing CVR and the steps taken so far, the INEC Chairman stated, “We are not happy with the reports we got from Idiya College of Oredo Ward 4 nor with the complaints from Owan West. We are aware of that.”
“We have also received complaints made by one of the political parties about a security network. Yesterday we had a closed-door security meeting in the office of the Commissioner of Police, and he assured us that he has spoken to the leadership of that security network and will continue to speak to them.”
“The responsibility for election security, just like internal security, rests with the Nigerian Police. They are the lead agencies in internal security, but where need be, they will call for support from other security agencies which is why they are all working in synergy. There is no difference between one security agency and another. They are all working together for a secure electoral environment in Edo State. “
Charging the Party Leaders to mobilise their supporters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the INEC Chairman said, “Beyond the CVR, I want to appeal to Political Parties in Edo State, please just as you are mobilizing your supporters to register, mobilise your supporters to collect their PVCs.”
“We have over two hundred thousand (200,000) uncollected PVCs in Edo State. These are for persons who have already registered. What is standing between them and voting is just to pick up the PVCs. So, please mobilise them to go and pick up their PVCs. The real challenge is for people who have registered to go and collect their PVCs and vote.”
The Commissioner of Police for Edo State, Funsho Adeboye in his remarks, assured the parties of a level playing field for all. He also refuted claims that security agencies were providing undue advantage to certain parties, emphasizing that such insinuations were unfounded.
He said, “We have an enabling and a level playing ground for all political parties to operate, and I’m speaking on behalf of all security agencies. Some of you said that we have been planted here. I don’t know by whom, and for what. I want to say it again, nobody has planted anybody to do something or anything that is against the law.”
He appealed to the parties to make the job of the security agencies easy. In his words, “Please play the game according to the rules. INEC which is the umpire has set the rules, we all know it. There is no need for police officers to be carrying guns on Election Day, I feel bad each time we do that, but we have to do it. I wish we could do without arms during the campaigns, during the election, and after the elections.”
“Please assist us, Nigeria is a great country, we can make it greater together. Please make it problem-free for us. We are ready to do our work conscientiously without any bias. I am speaking the minds of all security agencies,” the CP added.
In his welcome remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha explained that the meeting was convened in response to recent security developments in the State.
He said, “This meeting was called because of the happenings, especially security matters, some of our centers have been affected by the shootings and some of our staff have been affected by these unfortunate incidents. It is important that we interact with the security agencies to see how we can provide a solution to this.”
