"Urgent Call for Order: INEC Cautions Political Parties in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi"

 

In the run-up to the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) found itself gravely concerned about the escalating cases of pre-election violence orchestrated by political parties. Addressing the matter during the commission's quarterly review meeting with the parties in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stressed the need for introspection and restraint.

Prof. Yakubu emphasized the importance of learning from past experiences to enhance the conduct of future elections. He outlined areas for improvement, including election technology, recruitment, and training of ad hoc staff, the behavior of regular and ad hoc officials, security arrangements, logistical concerns, and relationships with other service providers.

Moreover, the Chairman urged party leaders to address the issue of deploying thugs during elections, as this practice resulted in the harassment of election officials, intimidation of voters, and disruptions that often led to the destruction of election materials. He expressed his dismay over the already emerging reports of clashes between rival parties in the three states and implored party leaders to call their supporters to order.

Campaigning in the three states had already commenced on July 14, 2023, as per the timetable and schedule of activities for the governorship elections. However, there were complaints about the misuse of power by incumbents in some states, restraining other parties and candidates from accessing public facilities for media campaigns through exorbitant fees or outright denial. Such situations frequently led to confrontations and violence between opposing party supporters.

In response to INEC's concerns, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) offered its advice to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), urging it to base its judgment on well-reasoned interpretations of the law rather than being swayed by emotions or technicalities. IPAC Chairman, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, recalled how IPAC had previously encouraged INEC to conclude the process of collating results for the presidential election, emphasizing the significance of protecting democracy in Nigeria.

While some member-political parties had approached the courts for redress regarding the outcome of the elections, IPAC commended them for pursuing legal channels. The chairman expressed the hope that the court's decision would prioritize fairness, equity, and justice.

IPAC also reviewed the report presented by the European Union Election Observer Mission (EU/EOM) to the 2023 general election in Nigeria, considering the views expressed by stakeholders in the democratic process. To address the immediate and underlying issues surrounding the conduct and outcome of the election, IPAC established the IPAC 2023 Elections Review Committee. The findings and recommendations of this committee aimed to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders on electoral, legal, and administrative reforms necessary to enhance democratic practices in Nigeria.

As the country approached the off-season elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states, IPAC emphasized the importance of preventing pressure on resident electoral commissioners and returning officers to falsify results by certain governors and INEC itself. The recent case of the Adamawa State 2023 governorship election result declaration was cited as an example, leading to INEC prosecuting the Adamawa REC in court. IPAC praised this action and called for relevant security agencies to prevent the misuse of state resources, which is prohibited by the Electoral Act 2022.

In conclusion, IPAC acknowledged that various factors influenced the conduct of the 2023 election, such as ethnic profiling, religious sentiments, voter suppression, ballot snatching, and hate speech. To address these issues, all key stakeholders were urged to work harmoniously together. With the insights gained from the INEC 2023 elections review report, stakeholders were presented with a unique opportunity to improve the electoral process for future elections, starting with the three off-season elections in November in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states.