Ahead of the governorship and House of Assembly elections in 29 states and six Area Councils of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that it would work with the police to ensure diligent prosecution of violators of the electoral laws.
The commission also said it would not tolerate the act of holding its officials hostage and forcing them to declare winners under duress.
According INEC, Where such occurs, the Commission will not issue Certificates of Return.
Chairman of the Commission Professor Mahmood Yakubu who stated this in Abuja at the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on security (ICCES) meeting on Thursday said the police had made several arrests while investigation was ongoing.
Yakubu said “many of our materials, including ballot boxes, voting cubicles, voters’ registers and Smart Card Readers were lost to acts of hooliganism and thuggery in the presidential and National Assembly elections held two weeks ago.”
While condoling the families of those who lost their lives, the INEC Chairman also expressed worry over the attacks on electoral officials during the presidential election.
He added that “some staff of the commission were abducted and taken hostage in an attempt to disrupt elections or influence the outcome.”
“In the course of securing the elections, the security agencies, electoral officials and innocent Nigerians have suffered needless attacks resulting in casualties including deaths and the loss of personal and official properties.
“On behalf of the Commission, I extend our deepest condolence to the families of those who lost their lives, including personnel of the security agencies. We are glad that the Police has made several arrests and investigation is ongoing.
“I wish to assure Nigerians that the Commission will work closely with the Police to ensure the diligent prosecution of all violators of our electoral laws.
“Citizens are asking for effective but non-intrusive protection before, during and immediately after the elections in which their rights are respected and their choices safeguarded.
“However, the Commission will not tolerate the act of holding our officials hostage and forcing them to declare winners under duress. Where such occurs, the Commission will not reward bad behaviour by issuing them Certificates of Return.”
