Elections: INEC Solicits Support Of Armed Forces, Stakeholders On Logistics, Security
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood YAKUBU (right), gives the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal I. O Amao, copies of the revised INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, during the former’s courtesy visit to the latter on Wednesday 8th June 2022.
LAGOS JUNE 9TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu has revealed that there will be need to solicit the assistance of Nigeria Airforce and other armed of the military for the provision of logistics and security in the coming Ekiti State Governorship election, Osun State Governorship election and 2023 general elections.
Yakubu who made the pronouncement during a courtesy visit on Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall IO Amao at the Nigeria Airforce Headquarters, Abuja yesterday said the Commission visited the Airforce Chief in order to explore more effective ways of working together as provided by law in order to address aspects of the perennial issue of logistics in elections in which he believed the Air Force has a critical role to play in the movement of materials.
He added that this will be extended to other Armed Services in their determination to efficiently deliver materials and more efficiently serve Nigerians on Election Day.
“There is no time to waste. The 2023 General Election is only 261 days from today. However, the Ekiti State Governorship election is holding in the next 10 days on Saturday 18th June 2022 while the Osun Governorship election holds in 38 days on Saturday 16th July 2022. We will seek the support of the Air Force in handling the delivery of outstanding election materials to the two States while the Commission bears responsibility for all subsequent deployment within the States to the Local Government Areas and beyond as has been the practice.
“ In doing so, I wish to reassure Nigerians that the Commission will always work together with all stakeholders, particularly agents of political parties and candidates, observers and the media to inspect and accompany the movement of all materials to various locations in a transparent manner.
“Election constitutes the most extensive mobilisation and complex logistics operations that could happen in a country in peacetime. On 25th February and 11thMarch 2023, the Commission will deploy personnel and materials to about 190,000 voting and collation locations nationwide for 1,491 executive and legislative offices across Nigeria. These activities must take place simultaneously, stretching over 923,768km2 within a space of six voting hours (8.30am – 2.30pm) involving a projected population of 90 million voters.
“It is obvious that in handling such a huge national assignment, the Commission cannot do it alone. Every national asset must be mobilised. It is in realisation of this objective that the law empowers the Commission to seek the support of the security agencies in general and the Armed Forces in particular in delivering materials for election and the protection of election officials. Section 27(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 specifically provides as follows:
“Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law and for the purpose of securing the vote, the Commission shall be responsible for requesting for the deployment of relevant security personnel necessary for elections or registration of voters and shall assign them in the manner determined by the Commission in consultation with the relevant security agencies; Provided that the Commission shall only request for the deployment of the Nigerian Armed Forces for the purpose of securing the distribution and delivery of election materials and protection of election officials.”
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Posted by News Rangers
on Jun 9 2022. Filed under National.
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