INEC Condemns Campaign Violence

Miffed at the reported cases of attacks on campaigns, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has drawn the attention of leaders of political parties participating in the 2023 general election to the provisions of the electoral act.

INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu spoke at a train-the-trainer seminar to build the capacity of the staff that would be engaged for the 2023 poll on use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other relevant technologies for the 2023 general elections in Abuja. He counselled parties and their supporters to focus on issues and steer clear of attacks on each other.

Yakubu said: “Even as the Commission is working hard to ensure a credible process in the forthcoming elections, reports of clashes among parties and their supporters in some States of the country during the ongoing electioneering campaign is worrisome. So too is the reported denial of access to public facilities for parties and candidates in some States of the Federation. Let me caution parties and their supporters to focus on issues and steer clear of attacks on each other.

“These are not only violations of the Electoral Act 2022 but also negate the voluntary commitment by all political parties and candidates to the letter and spirit of the Peace Accord signed about three weeks ago under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC).

“Parties, candidates and their supporters should not by acts of commission or omission further complicate the prevailing security situation in the country. A peaceful electioneering campaign is critical to the conduct of peaceful and credible elections.

“The Commission will continue to monitor the situation closely and will convene a meeting with leaders of political parties next week to discuss, among the other issues, the imperative of peaceful campaigns and equal access to public facilities.

“In the same vein, the Commission will also meet with the security agencies under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week.”

The PDP campaign has reported two attacks by suspected political thugs, first in Kaduna during its presidential rally and next in Maiduguri after the candidate and his entourage visited the palace of the Shehu of Borno. The Labour Party in Lagos State has reported that its supporters were attacked in parts of Oshodi after a rally for Mr Peter Obi. The party said it was also denied use of stadia in Nasarawa and Edo States.