FCT election: INEC Chairman consult with security agencies

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has held a consultative meeting with the country’s security agencies ahead of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Area Council Elections scheduled for 12th February 2022.

The Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held on Tuesday in Abuja, where the Commission said it has identified likely security threats to the election and shared the same with security agencies for swift and effective action using its technology driven Election Risk Management tool, the Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT).

According to Professor Yakubu, who also doubles as Co-Chairman of ICCES, the purpose,“is to identify early warning signals that could assist the security agencies and other stakeholders in devising and deploying appropriate mitigation strategies.”

He said; “among other areas of concern, the Commission focused on threats specific to geographical locations, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, the issue of hard drugs, presence of insurgents and armed groups, intra and inter-party conflicts, and incidents of hate speech”.

In order to achieve peaceful and successful elections on February 12, the Chairman further explained that, “the Commission will intensify its engagement with stakeholders, particularly with party leaders and candidates, traditional and religious leaders, transport providers, civil society organisations and the media.”

The INEC boss called on political parties to adhere to the Commission’s Timelines and Timetable and Schedule of activities for other bye elections as well as the end of tenure governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states scheduled for June and July 2022, respectively.

Speaking on the Ekiti election, he said, “All 18 political parties served notices for their party primaries to elect their candidates for the election and invited the Commission to monitor them. One party adopted the direct method for electing its candidate while 16 parties opted for the indirect method. However, from our field report, the Boot Party (BP) did not hold its primary election at any venue known to, and monitored by, the Commission. Consequently, we do not expect the party to nominate a candidate for the Ekiti State Governorship election”.

For his part, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Co-Chairman of ICCES, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno, represented by Gilbert Tobin, commended security agencies for their level of professionalism exhibited in the Anambra State Governorship Election and urged them to sustain the same in the FCT Area Council Election.

In attendance at the meeting were National Commissioners, Prof. Sani Kalla, Prof. Adekunle Ajayi, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, Prof. Muhammad Adam and Dr. Baba Bila, Secretary to the Commission Rose Oriaran –Anthony, Director-General of The Electoral Institute, Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris and some Directors in the Commission.