The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has urged security agencies to maintain vigilant surveillance over the electioneering process in Edo and Ondo States.
The aim is to prevent violent attacks orchestrated by political parties, candidates, and their supporters during campaign activities.
Yakubu made this call during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security held on Thursday in Abuja.
He emphasized the crucial role of security agencies in safeguarding registrants, registration personnel, equipment, observers, and journalists covering the Continuous Voters’ Registration exercise ahead of the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
The Continuous Voters’ Registration in both states is scheduled to run simultaneously from Monday, May 27, to Wednesday, June 5, from 9 am to 3 pm daily, including weekends.
Yakubu urged security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of the law throughout the election period, highlighting the importance of maintaining a peaceful and orderly electoral process.
“We need security protection for the registrants, registration personnel, equipment, observers, and journalists that will cover the CVR exercise.
“I urge you to keep your eyes on the electioneering process to prevent violent attacks or negative mobilisation by political parties, candidates, and their supporters during their campaigns.
“Similarly, the use of the power of incumbency to deny opposition parties and candidates access to public facilities such as radio and television stations, public buildings for campaigns and rallies, or even outdoor advertising through the imposition of excessive fees and levies often results in the breach of the peace.
“These actions, including the mutual destruction of campaign materials and facilities, violate the provisions of Sections 91 to 97 of the Electoral Act 2022. The security agencies must ensure the enforcement of the law,” he stressed.
