Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi polls: Spate of violence, insecurity worrisome — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concerns over the spate of insecurity and violence, including clashes among supporters of various political parties and candidates ahead of the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Mr Sam Olumekun, expressed the commission’s worry yesterday in a statement in Abuja.

He said in INEC’s engagement with political parties, the commission has constantly urged parties to rein in their supporters from actions capable of jeopardising the peaceful conduct of elections in Nigeria.

“INEC earnestly appeals to all political parties and candidates to avoid utterances and acts that may heat up the polity. The commission will continue to closely monitor the situation and sustain its engagement with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure a peaceful conduct of elections in the three states,” Olumekun said.

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On the submission of polling units and collation centre agents, the INEC official said the commission has notified all political parties of the opening of its online portal for the upload of the list of the agents, which commenced on Thursday 24th August 2023.

He said, “However, despite this notice and subsequent reminders, political parties are yet to substantially comply by submitting the list of their agents.

“For Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states, only 55 per cent of the expected total of 189,180 polling unit agents have been uploaded to the designated INEC Portal.  Specifically, 29,278 out of the expected 40,372 (72.5 per cent) for Bayelsa State; 51,681 out of 85,644 (60.3 per cent) for Imo, and 23,720 out of 63,144 (37.6 per cent) for Kogi State have been uploaded.”

He said only 25.1 per cent of the expected 15,804 collation agents in the three states have been uploaded: 1,246 (26.0%) of the 4,806 for Bayelsa; 1,638 (27.3%) of the 5,994 for Imo, and 1,095 (21.9%) of the 5,004 for Kogi State.

The commission warned that the portal would automatically shut down at 12:00 midnight tomorrow and that there shall be no extension, saying “All parties sponsoring candidates for the elections that are yet to upload the list of their agents should do so before the deadline for the exercise.”