NOV 11 GUBER POLL: STAKEHOLDERS URGE SECURITY AGENCIES TO BE NEUTRAL
REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU
Security agencies involved in the conduct of next month’s off-cycle governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states have been urged to maintain neutrality to ensure level playing field for all candidates during the elections.
The Executive Director of a nongovernmental organisation, KIMPACT DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (KDI), Mr. Bukola Idowu, gave the charge in Abuja during a meeting held to review reports on security risks in the affected states and likely ways to mitigate them.
He called on security agents to redouble their efforts in tackling insecurity, noting that the activities of non-state actors were capable of preventing the electorate from exercising their franchise on the election day if their safety was not guaranteed.
Mr. Idowu called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avoid repeat of lapses witnessed during the last general election by ensuring that the outcome of the election reflected the will of the people.
Mr. Idowu added that a more comprehensive engagement where all the stakeholders in ensuring credible election would be presented with a pre-election environment report to equip security agencies with steps to mitigate electoral violence.
The KIMPACT Development Initiative had carried out research across the 27 local government areas of Imo State, after which about 10 local government areas were identified as flashpoints for violence.
One of the participants from the Civil Society Organisations, Mr. Chibundu Uchegbu, described the meeting as timely.
He noted that the November 11 election might witness low turnout of voters if security agents did not step up their game in containing the activities of non state actors in Imo State.
Meanwhile Radio Nigeria has observes that there is growing concern on the security situation in Imo State with skepticism about the ability of the electoral umpire to be unbiased to ensure credible election.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
