Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof.
Mahmoud Yakubu has said that the commission will not deploy the
military for electoral duties in the coming governorship elections
in Kogi and Bayelsa States.
Spaeking during a visit to the House of Representatives Committee on
Electoral and Political Parties Matters at the National Assembly in
Abuja, the INEC Chairman said that the police and men of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Nigerian Police would be
used for the elections.
He assured the lawmakers that the peace agreement signed by
stakeholders in the affected states will be used as an oath of
commitment to compel them to whip their supporters in line, adding
that the commission is fully ready to conduct a peaceful, credible and
transparent election in the states.
“We have set up different security committees to police election in
these affected states,” he said. “At the state level, the Resident
Electoral Commissioner (REC) chairs the committee and is deputized by
the Commissioner of Police. At the local government level, it is
chaired by the Local government Electoral Officer (LGEO) and deputized
by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
“INEC is fully ready for the Kogi and Bayelsa elections, Last week,
the stakeholders signed a peace accord towards ensuring a peaceful
conduct of the polls.
“We will do everything within our powers to protect the sanctity of
the votes. Whatever the people decide will be the outcome as far as
INEC is concerned,” he said.
The INEC Chairman said the commission is committed towards building on
the legacies left by the fomer chairman, adding that Nigerians expect
nothing less than a process better than that of the 2015 general
elections.