Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged security services to ensure appropriate security for the impending bye-polls and rerun elections in various locations of the country.
Yakubu made the call during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, or ICCES, in Abuja on Tuesday.
He stated that there are two types of elections coming up in February. The first are bye-elections caused by the death or resignation of members of the National and State legislative houses, affecting two Senatorial Districts, four Federal and three State Assembly Constituencies.
He stated that the second group includes re-run elections ordered by the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals.
Recall that during an emergency meeting with political party leaders last month, the INEC chairman stated that the elections will effect 35 National and State Constituencies.
He stated on Tuesday that four additional Court of Appeal orders have been served on the Commission in relation to the Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency in Sokoto State, the Madara/Chinade State Constituency in Bauchi State, and the Kudan and Kauru/Chawai State Constituencies in Kaduna State.
“This brings the total number of affected constituencies to 39 which translates to 2.6% of the 1,491 Constituencies for which elections were conducted nationwide in the 2023 General Election,” he stated in a statement.
“The nine bye-elections are fresh elections covering the entire constituencies.”
“However, except for three constituencies (Plateau North Senatorial District, Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in Plateau State, and Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency in Kaduna State), the re-run elections will be place in a few polling units. In some circumstances, a single Polling Unit in a Federal or State Constituency is affected,” he explained.
“As ICCES members, you are responsible for ensuring election security. For this reason, the Commission has already provided the Nigeria Police Force, the primary agency in election security, with detailed information on the sites of the polls, broken down by States, Local Government Areas, Registration Areas/Wards, and Polling Units.
“We have also published the number of registered voters and Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) collected at each Polling Unit.
“At this meeting, additional ICCES members will be given the same information. The revised information will also be made available to the public via the Commission’s website and social media outlets immediately following the meeting.
“As security agencies, you are responsible for securing the environment so that we can deploy personnel and materials, as well as protecting observers, the media, and polling and collation agents representing political parties and candidates.” Credible elections cannot be held in the absence of a secure and peaceful atmosphere.
“From experience, conducting isolated elections such as bye-elections and re-run elections can be extremely difficult. We must be aware of the possibility for disruptive behavior by some candidates and their supporters.
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