We Won’t Succumb To Electoral Banditry, INEC Fumes

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed not to surrender to what it called ‘electoral banditry’ aimed at discrediting the electoral process and retuning pre-determined outcomes.
The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, made the vow in an interview with newsmen, yesterday, in Abuja.
Okoye was speaking on the decision to indefinitely suspend the Saturday’s Ekiti East State Constituency 1 election held in Ekiti State.
He said that the decision was necessary to preserve the integrity of the country’s elections, as well as safeguard the lives of citizens.
Okoye said that for the commission to proceed with any election in the face of brazen violence that had compromised the integrity of an election, would amount to dereliction of its electoral duty.
He noted that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State (REC) issued a statement detailing the level of violence unleashed on voters, election officials and security personnel on election duty.
The INEC commissioner said that the commission had reinforced the situation report of the REC for Ekiti by imposing an indefinite postponement of the state constituency 1 by-election.
“These measures are necessary to preserve the integrity of elections and the life and safety of voters, election officials and security personnel on election duty.
“INEC will never condone electoral banditry aimed at discrediting the electoral process and retuning predetermined outcomes.
“To buckle under the pressure of organised, coordinated and mindless violence will lead and amount to surrendering the sovereign democratic rights of the people to clean elections, and the suzerainty of anti-democratic forces.”
Okoye advised security agencies to take proactive and comprehensive measures to neutralise potential threats ahead of the Aba North/South Federal Constituency in Abia State.
The Abia election has been scheduled for March 27 while the Isoko North State Constituency by-election in Delta State, would hold on April 10.
“As the commission prepares for the conduct of the two by-elections, we urge the security agencies to proactively carry out comprehensive security clearance operations in the two constituencies and neutralize potential threats to the conduct of clean elections in the constituencies.
“The commission will not stake or mortgage the life and security of any official on election duty and that of the voters, in the face of contrived atmosphere of fear, anxiety and violence.
“It will be unconscionable and amount to dereliction of its electoral duty for the commission to proceed with any election in the face of brazen violence that has compromised the integrity of an election.”