The three main visible political parties that are contesting in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa have expressed worries over the spate of violence that normally characterize the elections in those states and therefore urged the police and other security agencies, and INEC to brace up for the occasion at this weekend’s elections in the states.
The Labour Party (LP) National Chairman, Julius Abure, expressed worries over the security situation ahead of this weekend’s election in the states.
He spoke on Channels Television’s People’s Townhall on Election Security. He identified the flashpoint states as Imo and Kogi, saying Bayelsa has fewer threats.
Abure cited Imo as an instance, accusing security agencies of colluding with some gunmen to attack LP offices. He described the situation as worrisome, saying the LP governorship candidates in Imo and Kogi states are concerned about the security of lives and properties on Saturday.
“My party and candidates are very worried about the security situation in Imo and Kogi especially. All through our campaigns, our office has been attacked severally by unknown gunmen, who in some cases, security agencies accompany [those who carry out] some of those activities that took place in the attack on our office,” he stated.
“All of these activities raise serious issues about the security of lives and properties in Imo and Kogi especially. Our major worry as a political party is in Imo and Kogi.
“We have less violence about Bayelsa. Bayelsa may not be a very serious flashpoint. We are not seriously worried about Bayelsa State.”
During the townhall meeting, the LP Chairman alleged that the party’s governorship candidate in Imo, Senator Athan Achonu was attacked by gunmen earlier Sunday in Owerri.
“Just this evening, a report reaching me has it that my governorship candidate was attacked in Owerri West Local Government.
“If this townhall is about to start and my candidate is subject to attack, it makes it difficult to take into account all the assurances by security agencies that the elections in these three states could be free and fair,” Abure added.
Although the state government has yet to confirm or deny the attack, it was gathered that Achonu was said to have accused the police in the state of attacking him and his convoy and preventing him from attending a church service in the Owerri North Local Government Area of the state.
According to reports, policemen with thugs allegedly attacked him and prevented him and his convoy from gaining access to the church premises.
APC Chairman Urges Supporters To Shun Violence
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has urged supporters to avoid violence and abide by the rules ahead of the November 11 governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi State.
He made the call on Sunday while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s People’s Townhall on Election Security in Abuja, amid fears of violence in Imo and Kogi States.
Ganduje stated that President Bola Tinubu’s wish is a credible election in the three states on Saturday.
“I would like to remind, warn our members that Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has already told us (that) what matters to him is a free and fair election, not the result of the election as such. So we have to abide by that,” he said.
“Even though we know those who are contesting and the party itself are all meant to win elections we should win elections according to the laid down laws and regulations. So I call on our members to take note of this so that they stick to the tenets of the election.”
During the show, the APC Chairman also advocated for more political sensitisation for Nigerians.
According to him, the programme should be part of Nigeria’s political culture to help strong political parties.
When asked about the party’s plan to avert violence in the elections, Ganduje explained that the APC leadership has taken some measures to address the issue.
He explained that the party has held a series of meetings with APC leaders at various levels as well as discussions with relevant stakeholders.
PDP Tasks INEC On Early Arrival Of Sensitive Materials
In its case, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the early arrival of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials during this weekend’s governorship polls in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states.
PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, stated this on Channels Television’s People’s Townhall on Election Security in Abuja on Sunday night.
He charged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to identify ringleaders of electoral violence in the three states.
“In my opinion, the ring leaders of these crises in these areas should be identified before Friday to further deflate this violence,” Bature said.
“Coming to INEC,” he continued. “One of the key issues that bring violence is late arrival of election materials. Sometimes, it is a strategy with the political party that is stronger in the areas. They (INEC officials) bring election materials late so that the election can drag late into the night and that brings about violence.
“The issue of election materials coming on time is key and now the police deploying (officers) and identifying these ringleaders in all the areas that we have identified as flashpoints.
“There are people who are already planning for violence. So, the security agencies should look at the template they have so that before they act, they are already there to protect the voters.”
The PDP chieftain said if President Bola Tinubu sustained his assurance that he has no candidate in the polls despite being a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the level of violence will noticeably reduced before, during and after the polls.
Responding to the concerns raised by Bature, INEC Acting Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mary Nkem, who was also on the same panel as the PDP chieftain and the IGP on Sunday night said all the glitches experienced during the general elections earlier in the year had been taken care of.
She said INEC has put a lot of plans in place to guarantee early deployment of sensitive materials to polling units including ad hoc officers camping near polling units a day before the exercise.
“Rather than people moving from the local government headquarters to the various polling units, they are moved closer to the PUs (polling units) where they are going to work. So, I can assure you that God willing, we will deploy early,” Nkem said.
Similarly, the IGP assured voters and stakeholders in the three states that adequate security would be made available to ensure safe and peaceful polls.
Also on the panel were APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Julius Abure.