INEC EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER SECURITY THREATS IN ANAMBRA

The Independent National Electrical Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over the escalating security threats in Anambra, ahead of the Nov. 6 governorship election.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu expressed the concern at an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Yakubu said that during the last ICCES quarterly meeting on Sept. 9, major concern was raised by the committee on the security situation in Anambra and the adjoining states.

He said the concern was raised on how the situation might affect preparations and possibly the conduct of the Anambra election.

Yakubu said that unfortunately, the situation had deteriorated since the last meeting, as many innocent lives had been lost and property destroyed in the state.

“From reports that we have received, the stated goal of many of the attackers is that the governorship election scheduled for Nov. 6 must not hold.

This is worrisome for the commission. We are deeply concerned that specific electoral facilities and materials could once more become targets of attack,” he said.

Yakubu said that in May 2021the INEC office at Awka was attacked and all the non-sensitive materials assembled for the election were destroyed.

He added that the commission’s store, collation centre and the main office building were either totally or substantially damaged, while INEC also lost several vehicles billed for the election.

“Happily, we have almost fully recovered from that attack. The destroyed buildings have either been completely repaired or are nearing completion and we have fully replaced the materials destroyed.

Yakubu said that INEC was particularly concerned about the safety of voters and election duty staff, including security officials who have also became targets of the attacks.

Credit: Eons Intelligence