Governorship/Houses Of Assembly Elections: Shun Violence, INEC Chairman Urges Political Parties

In preparation for the Saturday, March 18^th, 2023 governorship and Houses of Assembly elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Moguno have urged political parties and their supporters to shun violence.

They gave the appeal on Tuesday during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

INEC boss implored political parties, candidates and their supporters to see the election as a contest, not war. 

He charged them to refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of our personnel, observers, the media and service providers.

According to him, “there will also be more candidates involved and more collation centres to protect. There are also local elections involving keen contests. It is therefore important for parties and candidates to speak to their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war,” he added.

While thanking security agencies for the professionalism of their personnel and the largely peaceful conduct of the presidential election, Prof. Yakubu said that INEC state offices have provided the police with the details for the governorship and state assembly elections, including locations of polling units and collation centres.

“There will also be more candidates involved and more collation centres to protect. There are also local elections involving keen contests. It is therefore important for parties and candidates to speak to their agents and supporters to see the elections as a contest and not war. 

“Unlike the February 25 Presidential and National Polls that were held nationwide, the Governorship elections will only be held in 28 States.

“Those exempted are eight states – Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun – because polls are held off-cycle.

“To ensure a hitch-free election, INEC in collaboration with security agencies will ensure that the exercise of the State elections will involve 1,021 constituencies.”