Off-Cycle Election: CSO expresses worries over insecurity ahead of Kogi, Imo Bayelsa Elections

Election monitoring civil society organization, YIAGA Africa, has voiced serious concerns about the escalating levels of insecurity and violence in the lead-up to the off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states.

In their pre-election statement, the CSO expressed worries about the blatant misuse of incumbency powers, evident in the imposition of campaign restrictions, fines and levies on campaign materials, and physical attacks on political rivals.

YIAGA Africa conveyed its apprehension, stating, “Yiaga Africa expresses concern about the increasing levels of insecurity and the surge in violence across the states, particularly in Imo and Kogi states. Equally troubling is the flagrant abuse of incumbency powers, seen in the curtailment of campaigns, financial penalties on campaign materials, and assaults on political rivals,” as highlighted in a segment of the statement.

The organization further emphasized its distress over the lack of accountability for the recorded fatalities and attacks during the pre-election period, stressing that this absence of responsibility exacerbates the prevailing culture of impunity within the electoral process.

Advocating for a collaborative effort between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, YIAGA proposed that the successful conduct of a peaceful and transparent election relies on “effective collaboration and coordination with respective institutions such as INEC, the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies.”

As previously reported by Naija News, security analyst Kabir Adamu revealed that 133 cases of violence have been documented in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa leading up to the off-cycle governorship election scheduled for this Saturday.