By TINA TIMOTHY

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that the Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) holding on Saturday, 12th February, 2022 would be credible and peaceful as the commission would engage with stakeholders.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the assurance at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to review security arrangements for the Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), held in Abuja, on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.

The INEC Chairman while welcoming stakeholders, disclosed that the meeting was their second, having resolved during the first meeting to invite the Resident Electoral Commissioner, as well as the FCT Police Commissioner, to brief ICCES of their level of preparedness.

“I welcome you all to our second meeting in the last two weeks. You may recall that at our last meeting held on 20th January, 2022, we resolved to invite the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to brief us on the security situation and state of readiness for the Area Council Election. As you are aware, the election is holding on Saturday 12th February 2022 which is just 11 days away.

“For our part, the commission has also been evaluating the risk to the election, using the Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT). The aim is to identify early warning signals that could assist the security agencies and other stakeholders in devising and deploying appropriate mitigation strategies.

“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.

“The hard copy of the summary of the threats and frequency of incidents is included in your folders for this meeting.

“In the next few days, 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.

“We will work with all stakeholders to ensure that the forthcoming election is peaceful and our processes, credible. That is why this meeting is crucial. Securing the environment is the foundation for a peaceful, well-organised and credible election. This was clearly demonstrated in the peaceful conduct of the recent Anambra state governorship election. Let us make the FCT Area Council election another shining example of a peaceful election,” Yakubu said.

The INEC Chairman also said that in addition to the FCT Area Council Election, “the commission is also preparing for six bye-elections on 26th February, 2022, followed by the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections on 18th June and 16th July, 2022 respectively.

“In the case of the Ekiti state governorship election, the period earmarked in the timetable and schedule of activities for party primaries ended three days ago on 29th January, 2022. 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.

“On this note, let me once again warn political parties to strictly adhere to the commission’s timelines for all activities, including the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates. These timelines are firm and fixed. No deviation or violation will be allowed,” Yakubu warned

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