INEC Issues Warning of Potential Disruption to February 3 Bye-Elections

• INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed concerns over potential disruptions to the February 3 rerun and bye-elections, citing challenges and security threats
• Yakubu urged security agencies to ensure a conducive environment, safeguarding personnel, materials, observers, media, and representatives for credible elections

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has sounded the alarm regarding plans to disrupt the upcoming February 3 rerun and bye-elections in various parts of the country.

Yakubu raised this alarm on Tuesday during the inaugural quarterly meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held in Abuja. He emphasized the inherent challenges in conducting isolated elections, such as bye-elections and re-run elections, citing potential disruptive behaviour by some candidates and their supporters.

Expressing concerns over prevailing insecurity in certain states, exacerbated by incendiary statements from political actors, Yakubu urged security agencies to create a conducive environment for the elections to proceed smoothly.

Highlighting the role of security agencies, Yakubu emphasized their responsibility to ensure a secure environment for INEC’s deployment of personnel and materials. This includes safeguarding observers, media personnel, and polling and collation agents representing political parties and candidates. Without a secure and peaceful atmosphere, the credibility of the elections is at risk.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) and co-chairman of ICCES, Nuhu Ribadu, reiterated the President’s assurance that the NSA’s office would continue collaborating with INEC to guarantee secure elections. He emphasized the paramount importance of protecting election materials and the electorate.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun acknowledged the challenges of isolated elections and assured Nigerians that security agencies were well-prepared. The police have conducted a thorough threat analysis in states where the elections will occur. They are set to deploy sufficient personnel to ensure the security and safety of both voters and election officials.