W/Africa’s electoral bodies worry over insecurity, armed conflict

Electoral commissions in West Africa and beyond have expressed concern over the impact of insecurity, banditry, and other forms of armed conflict on the conduct of elections in Nigeria and the region.

The chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Monday in Abuja at a meeting with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) at INEC headquarters, Abuja.

He said a nine-nation conference of electoral bodies and experts would hold this week in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Yakubu said, “At different fora, electoral commissions in West Africa and beyond have expressed concern about the impact of prevailing insecurity on the conduct of elections, particularly with regard to insurgency, banditry, and other forms of armed conflict.

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“We are aware of the importance of our elections to Nigeria, our sub-region and the world. We assure you that the commission will not fail the nation and the international community.”

Speaking earlier, the head of Delegation who is also the deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel and Officer in Charge of UNOWAS, Ms. Giovanie Biha, lamented the increasing attacks on INEC facilities nationwide.