The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the recent attacks on its various offices located in some parts of the country are no longer coincidence but quite orchestrated and targeted at the agency.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made this known at an emergency meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Wednesday stating that these activities may affect the organization’s plans ahead of the 2023 general elections. It has been gathered that in the last three weeks at least six INEC facilities in the Southeast states have been set ablaze by unidentified persons which the agency notes have become worrying.
These attacks have led to the destruction of election materials worth millions of naira. Meanwhile, Mr Yakubu lamented that this could affect the commission could suffer a setback in its growth, especially during the striving economic period. However, he said, “Clearly, these acts of unjustifiable aggression may undermine the commission’s capacity to organize 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.”
Recall that several attacks have been carried out on INEC’s offices in Local Government offices in Essien Udim in Akwa Ibom State, Ohafia in Abia State and Udenu in Enugu State. Mahmood Yakubu further revealed that more facilities are being systematically targeted and attacked as two offices in Ebonyi and Ezza North Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State were burnt down on Tuesday. However, he vowed that the commission will involve the relevant security agencies to find and deal with perpetrators of the heinous crimes according to the law.
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