October 15, (THEWILL) – Ahead of the three off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States schedule for November 11, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has raised the alarm that the growing level of violence and insecurity in Imo and Kogi States is not only “unacceptable, unnecessary and worrisome” but also capable of scaring potential voters.
The INEC made its position known through the National Commissioner and Member, Information and Voter Education Committee, (IVEC), Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna who raised the alarm during a one-day workshop organised for media executives in Owerri by the Commission.
THEWILL recalls that electioneering campaigns in the two states of Kogi and Imo have witnessed violence and this has made many to be scared of the situation as we approach the election.
Haruna said: “We have gone so far with our preparedness for the off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States.
“The Commission is truly worried about the growing level of insecurity and violence in Kogi and Imo States. This is unacceptable, unnecessary and most worrisome.
“Campaigns in Kogi State have been violent and this is most unfortunate. Our political gladiators and indeed, all citizens, must work towards ensuring free, fair and credible elections.
“It stands to reason that if this situation is allowed to continue, there is the likelihood that people will be afraid to come out to vote on the Election Day.
“Already, INEC is having a shortfall in the number of ad-hoc staff needed to superintend over the forthcoming elections.”
Also an election observer, Yiaga Africa, recently released a report titled ‘Emerging Political and Security Trends in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States’, which showed insecurity topping other challenges before, during and after the elections
The report stated, “The upcoming off-cycle elections are likely to be influenced by the issue of security, which is a major concern in the country.
“The South-East geopolitical zone has experienced several security crises, with militia groups posing a significant threat to the socio-economic well-being of the area. The enforcement of the Monday seat-at-home by The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and unknown gunmen has further hampered economic activities.
“Reports have indicated that five LGAs (Ehime/Mbano, Okigwe, Oru West, Oru
East, and Orlu LGAs) in Imo State are hotspots for violence leading up to the 2023 general elections.
“The secessionist group has also heightened the vulnerability of the state to armed violence, causing deaths and property damage, including attacks on State facilities, such as the Independent National Electoral Commission assets.
“In Imo State, there have been 12 reported cases of attacks and destruction of INEC’s assets and facilities, the highest in the country between 2019 and 2023. Other areas in the state, such as Orlu, Orsu, Ideato North and South, Okigwe, Oguta-Izombe, Njaba, Oru East and Oru West, have also been identified as security hotspots.
“Professor Sylvia Agu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in
Imo State, recently announced that 2,300 soldiers would be deployed for the election.
“While the security situation in Bayelsa State seems to be relatively calm ahead of the election, there are still concerns that it may be premature to predict what will happen during the election.
“Recently, there was a report of an attack on Saturday, August 13th, where armed men in multiple vehicles invaded Opu Nembe
(Basambri) in Nembe Local Council, resulting in one fatality and several injuries.
“The heightened security situation in Kogi State has been exacerbated by the rhetoric and activities of politicians in the State. In June 2023, the Kogi State Government alleged that suspected thugs loyal to the SDP candidate attacked Governor Yahaya Bello’s convoy while on his way from Abuja to Lokoja, the State capital.
“Mr Bello and Mr Ajaka traded blame over the incident, accusing each other of being responsible for the attack. While the Governor alleged that his convoy was attacked by the SDP’s team, Mr Ajaka claimed that it was an assassination attempt on his life by the Governor and his men.
“There was a report of unrest in Ayingba in Dekina LGA of Kogi East, on Sunday 28 August 2023, when the SDP candidate went to commission his campaign office. The office was allegedly vandalized on 2 separate occasions, with one person reported dead from the incident.
“Yiaga Africa also received reports that the SDP candidate’s office in Lokoja was also burnt down. The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday 28, August 2023. There also have been several reports of kidnappings in Kogi State, one of which was the kidnapping of Oba of Idofin and his wife in Yagba East Local Government Area by gunmen on Monday, 19 June 2023. There was also the kidnapping of Passengers who were travelling on the Peace Mass Transit Bus. This incident occurred on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
“Also, a report of the kidnap of 3 family members in the Greenland community, Ganaja Ajaokuta, Kogi state was received by Yiaga Africa. This incident happened on Monday, June 5th, 2023.”
Political analysts also believed that though Nigeria is still battling with the fallout of the 2023 general elections, but they expressed the opinion that President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Independent National Electoral Commission face a fresh test with the imminent off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States.
President Tinubu, they believe, must use the elections, the first under his administration, to prove his full control of the situation in the country.
He also needs to bring his experience to bear in the political arena and justify his widely acclaimed democratic credentials by deploying ample security cover to safeguard lives and property during the coming elections.
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Egbetokun, should deliver on his promise to destroy insecurity, as he must mobilise enough men and material towards ensuring successful elections in the three affected states.
To ensure free and fair elections, the police must perform optimally and ensure that voters freely chose who will lead them in the three states during the coming elections.
A country cannot be truly democratic until its citizens have the opportunity to choose their representatives through elections under a free and fair atmosphere.
Nigeria’s experiment with democracy has been fraught with elections marred by manipulation, violence, votes falsification and poor management.
All Nigerians are expecting from the electoral umpire, the INEC and the security agencies is for them to facilitate a free, fair and credible elections under a peaceful atmosphere on November 11.
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
