The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that one of its major challenges ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections is the likely activities of non-state actors and armed groups who may want to disrupt the exercise.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who raised the concern when he led National Commissioners to brief the National Peace Committee in preparation for the election, however assured that security agents in the two states have assured of their preparedness to ensure a peaceful exercise.

Yakubu called on the National Peace Committee (NPC) to support its appeal to stakeholders in the electoral process to allow peaceful elections in Edo and Ondo states.

While appreciating the NPC for its contribution to peaceful elections, Prof. Yakubu noted that since its debut and support for peaceful elections, the Commission’s elections have become more peaceful than before. He urged the Committee not to relenting in its peace efforts.

Speaking on preparations for the September and November elections in the two States, the INEC Chairman said the Commission has successfully undertaken nine out of 13 activities outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Elections, which was released in September last year.

He said the next activity which is the 10th, would be carried out on Tuesday next week when the Commission will present the Register of Voters to all the political parties fielding candidates in Edo state.

According to him, “All the activities that INEC is supposed to conduct have been conducted without hitches. Not one activity has been adjusted for one day. All these activities are going to coalesce on Election Day on the 21st September and the Election Day is beyond the responsibilities of INEC alone. The political parties, observers, the media, the security agencies, and everybody have a role to play.

“The biggest challenge we have been facing in the management of elections is what happens on Election Day. That is why the role of the National Peace Committee becomes pertinent in terms of appealing to all the actors, as we build up to the election, during the election, and also after the election.”

Speaking on the Commission’s anticipated concerns ahead of the polls, the INEC Chairman once again raised the issue of the involvement of state-controlled security outfits, such as the Edo State Security Network, and possibly the Amotekun in Ondo state.

He however said that the Police in both states have given the assurance of their non-participation in the elections.

He also expressed concern over the activities of none state actors and armed groups who are capable of disrupting the peace and electoral process before it is concluded in the two States.

Yakubu said the Commission had raised such concerns at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICESS) meeting held recently, and would continue to engage with security agencies to get responses on what action has been taken.

On the Commission’s strategy to ensure that citizens in Edo and Ondo States are able to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the elections, the INEC boss He affirmed that the Commission has printed the PVCs for 119, 000 new registrants and voters that made transfer requests or applied for replacement of lost or damaged cards.

He said: “The total number of PVCs printed is 184,000 for all categories, and I am happy to say that all the cards have arrived in Edo State since Monday. They are currently being sorted out by Local Government, Ward, and polling unit.”

The INEC Chairman said personalised messages will be sent to the new registrants to pick up their PVC, adding that the list of all new registrants in Edo state will be published on the Commission’s website by next week, to enable voters to check for where to collect their cards. (The Nation)

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