2023: INEC Boss Wails, Reveals Consequences of Continued Attacks
- There are fears that preparedness for future elections in Nigeria may be affected drastically
- Mahmood Yakubu of INEC raised the concern on Wednesday, May 19
- Mahmood was reacting to repeated attacks on the commission's properties which was rampant in the southeast
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The spate of recent attacks on properties and structures of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has forced the chairman of the agency, Mahmood Yakubu, to open up on its consequences.
In his address to top INEC staff and journalists on Wednesday, May 19, Yakubu stated that apart from the fact that replacing the damaged equipment will be extremely difficult, the trend is having a serious toll on the commission's commitment to strengthen the nation's electoral process, Tribune reports.
Source: Original
Revealing that INEC and personnel have been objects of attacks since the 2019 general election, Yakubu claimed that the perpetrators are systematic in their evil operations.
He pointed out in clear terms that if this continues, the readiness of the organisation for future elections will undoubtedly be affected.
His words:
“Surely, these attacks are no longer freak events but appear to be quite orchestrated and targeted at INEC. Clearly, these are acts of unjustifiable aggression which may undermine the Commission’s capacity to organise elections and dent the nation’s electoral process.
"The facilities of the commission are there to serve the local communities for the most fundamental aspect of democratic governance, which is elections.”
However, as a way forward, the INEC boss said the commission is planning to put an end to the attacks by collaborating with security agencies to quickly track, arrest and deal with the criminals, Premium Times reports.
Earlier, suspected arsonists had set ablaze two INEC offices in Ebonyi state. The electoral commission disclosed in a tweet that the offices were attacked on Tuesday, May 18, by unidentified persons.
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According to INEC, the affected offices are located in Ebonyi and Ezza North local government areas of the state.
A video shared by the commission showed that fire caused major damage to both facilities.
Source: Legit.ng
