INEC burnt offices, ballot boxes snatching worry CSO

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room on Monday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure accountability for acts inimical to the integrity and credibility of the polls especially individuals complicit of burning of INEC offices, snatching ballot boxes among others.


According to the group, these  allegations must be thoroughly investigated to restore faith in the process and address lingering social fractures that reinforce feeling of exclusion. 


The Executive Director of Policy Legacl and Advocacy Centre and Convener of Situation Room Clement Nwankwo told newsman that  instances of contrived and voter suppression due to violence must be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators and their sponsors punished to the full length of the law. 


According to him,  these allegations must be thoroughly investigated to restore faith in the process and address lingering social fractures that reinforce feeling of exclusion. 

The Situation Room calls on the Inspector General of Police to urgently investigate allegations into Police overreach in identified locations in the country.

He also said the National Assembly should fast track the process of passing the Electoral Offences Commission Bill. 

Clement said the international community to continue to lend their voices in defence of the integrity of the result. 

“We ask that such officers be held personally accountable for infringing on the rights of citizens in the exercise of their franchise.

“ In the same vain, Situation Room also calls on the IGP to carry out investigations on all political actors who have instigated or perpetrated violence leading to the needless loss of lives.

“Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security should deploy security personnel in line with security risk findings taking into consideration major flashpoints in future elections. 

“The level of violence, hate speech and general toxic political environment contradicts the commitment to the Peace Accord signed by political parties and candidates prior to the elections. 

“Politicians should commit to respecting the rules of the election and under the current circumstance ensure that their followers do not act outside of the law with respect to election returns.

“ We urge the United States and the United Kingdom to follow through on their earlier statement that they will sanction individuals whose actions undermine the election or have led to the death of citizens,” he said.

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