INEC Chair raises alarm over possible election violence in Bayelsa, Kogi

Yusuf Bello| The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu on Friday said warning signs of potential violence in Kogi and Bayelsa is a cause for concern.

The election in both states is scheduled to hold on November 16.

Yakubu who made the observation while speaking at the inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES) meeting organised by the commission, called on security agencies to ensure adequate response to any form of disruption during the elections.

The INEC chair described both Kogi and Bayelsa politically violent states.

He said, “There are already warning signals in the two states; both are politically volatile. Elections have been disrupted by violence in the past. Our own risk assessment which will be shared with the security agencies at this meeting has identified some flashpoints.”

“We are also concerned that thugs have been mobilised from within and outside the states with the aim of either influencing the elections or disrupting the process on behalf of partisan sponsors. This calls for a robust response before the elections, on election day and during the process of collation and declaration of results”.

“We are also concerned that thugs have been mobilised from within and outside the states with the aim of either influencing the elections or disrupting the process on behalf of partisan sponsors. This calls for a robust response before the elections, on election day and during the process of collation and declaration of results.”

Responding to INEC chair’s fears, the inspector general of police, Mohammed Adamu said the force was aware of the challenges and have been finalised to deploy 66,241 officers to both states for election the election.

Adamu said,“We are aware of the security challenges in the two states and we have made adequate provisions in terms of personnel and logistics to tackle any security challenge we might face.”

“In Bayelsa, we are deploying 31,041 personnel to cover the election; in Kogi, we are deploying 35,200 personnel. This personnel will cover every terrain in both states; no tout will be allowed to disrupt the election, all those areas will be manned.”