TODAY’S governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states hold amidst fears of political thugs unleashing violence on voters and election officials.
Already, the Federal Government, through the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), on Friday, issued a stern warning to violent persons to stay off the election process in the three states.
In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, assured residents of Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states of security during today’s elections while warning that there will be severe consequences for anyone found to have disrupted the conduct of elections or abused his authority.
According to the NSA, a monitoring system has been established with monitors deployed in the field to collect any evidence of violence and irregularities.
In the statement, signed by Zakari Mijinyawa, Head, Strategic Communication, Office of the National Security Adviser, Ribadu warned against violence by political actors and charged security agencies to adhere to professional code of ethics during the conduct of the elections.
He gave the assurance that in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu, security agencies had made adequate preparations to ensure safe, secure and transparent elections today.
The NSA, who is the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, charged all security, intelligence and law enforcement officers deployed on election security duties to conduct themselves creditably.
He stated that the Federal Government had mobilised all the required resources for the smooth conduct of the elections and called on all election managers to adhere to the instruction given by the president.
He admonished voters in the three states to come out en masse to exercise their franchise, assuring them of adequate protection.
We’ve deployed 40,000 men in Kogi –Police
The police said they have deployed 40,000 personnel in Kogi State to deal with any untoward happenings before, during and after the election in the state.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of today’s election in the state, Habu Sanni, said the deployed number was proportionate to the threat level identified ahead of today.
According to Sanni, about 90 percent of the personnel deployed for the election have arrived in the state and gave the assurance that those not yet on ground would arrive early enough for the election.
He stated that all the 3,500 polling units in the state would be adequately covered, warning that not room would be given to anyone to disrupt the election.
The DIG said there would be restriction of movement today, as only people on essential duties would be issued with tags and allowed to move.
Meanwhile, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Gabriel Longpet, declared that 108,000 registered voters would not be able to vote in today’s election in the state.
According to Professor Longpet, at the close of the collection window on October 15, 2023, only 20,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been collected out of the 128,000 that were left uncollected before the February general election.
He disclosed that all materials, sensitive and non-sensitive, had been distributed across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Bayelsa
In Bayelsa State, on Friday, intimidation of various political parties’ officials and late arrival of sensitive materials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the 2, 244 polling units across the state reportedly became issues of concern to the electorate.
A report had it that on Friday morning, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Brass Local Government Area, Mr Bara Daniel, was attacked and injured by thugs at the Twon Brass jetty while INEC officials were offloading election materials.
The caretaker chairman of the local government, Mr Alabo Karika, condemned the attack and called on security agents to prevent the situation from constituting a threat to the peaceful conduct of today’s election.
However, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, stated that with the level of deployment of personnel and equipment for the election, criminal elements in the state would have a tough time with the police.
Speaking in Yenagoa at a meeting with traditional leaders, party executives, police officers and media practitioners in Yenagoa, IGP Egbetokun urged Bayelsans not to panic as the police would take over security across the state.
The electoral umpire, INEC said the total number of registered voters in the state stood at 1,056,862 comprising 566,095 males and 490,767 females.
Speaking at the meeting, the INEC chairman, represented by the National Commissioner supervising Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers states, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, said the commission had tested the efficacy of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and received no adverse report from those who observed the trial.
Meanwhile, a forum of gubernatorial candidates and political parties of like minds, representing the various political parties in the state has issued a strong warning against any attempt to manipulate the election, expressing concerns that some political parties were plotting to rig the election with funds allocated for development of the state.
Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw, Yenagoa identified as flashpoints
An election management team, which has engaged in series of activities towards today’s election, CellHub, commended the performance of the security agencies involved in the pre-election operations, particularly the military.
The team had identified some security flashpoints in the state that might cause mayhem during the poll. It listed Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa as key flashpoints in the state.
The group, in a statement on Friday signed by its Executive Director, Idris Usman, acknowledged the commitment, professionalism and diligence so far displayed by the security personnel deployed to ensure a secure and conducive environment for the election process.
It said efforts of the security agencies had contributed to building public confidence and ensuring the smooth conduct of pre-election activities.
Usman noted: “However, as part of our ongoing collaboration to enhance the electoral process, CellHub urges the security agencies to concentrate their efforts in identified flashpoints within certain local government areas. These areas include Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw, and Yenagoa local government areas.
“We have noticed over the last 24 hours, reported cases of intimidation and violence in some communities, particularly Brass and Nembe local government areas.
“Recognising the significance of these local governments and the potential challenges they may pose, CellHub calls for heightened vigilance, strategic deployment and effective communication among security personnel.
“By focusing on these flashpoints, we aim to preemptively address any potential security concerns and ensure the safety of voters, election officials and other stakeholders.”
Candidates decry alleged plot to buy votes
Meanwhile, a forum of governorship candidates drawn from the 18 political parties taking part in today’s election in Bayelsa State expressed concern about what it called attempts by some political stakeholders to manipulate the process through vote buying.
The forum, in a statement signed by 15 candidates and political parties, it was concerned by speculations that some political parties had perfected plans to rig and jeopardise the integrity of the election.
The chairman of the forum, Mr Victor Ben, said they were more concerned about alleged plots use funds meant for the development of the state to manipulate the outcome of the election.
Ben said: “It is our steadfast belief that this election should authentically represent the will of the people of Bayelsa, free from undue interference from federal powers.
“To uphold the integrity of this electoral process, we are committed to closely monitoring the activities of all political parties and will promptly report any suspicious actions that may compromise the fairness of the election.
“We call upon President Bola Tinubu and relevant security agencies to investigate any speculations regarding potential violence during the election, with the aim of preventing voter apathy and ensuring a smooth voting process.
“We remain dedicated to ensuring a free, fair and transparent election on November 11, one that truly reflects the democratic will of the people of Bayelsa State.”
In a new development on Friday, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja finally cleared the coast for former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, to participate in today’s election in the state.
The appellate court dismissed the last of the chains of suits seeking the exclusion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate from the poll.
Delivering judgment in an appeal filed against Sylva and two others by one Hon Isikima Ogbomade Johnson, the court held that the suit was not only unjusticeable but brought in bad faith by the appellant against the respondents.
Intrigues in Imo
Imo State was thrown into confusion on Friday with the emergence of a one-minute-and-one-second video announcing the purported withdrawal of the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, from today’s governorship election.
The video, tagged ‘Breaking News’, was presented as having been aired by the television station, TVC, which incidentally belongs to President Bola Tinubu, who is the national leader of the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC),.
In the video, Senator Anyanwu is portrayed as announcing his withdrawal from the governorship race to support the incumbent governor of the state, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who is also the candidate of the ruling APC in the state.
The video reportedly caused a distraction among political parties and their candidates who were putting finishing touches to their campaigns and their participation in today’s election.
The election will be contested by 17 political parties with Anyanwu (PDP), the incumbent governor, Uzodimma (APC) and Senator Athan Achonu of the Labour Party (LP) as the three leading candidates.
Interestingly, as the purported withdrawal of Anyanwu hit the airwaves, the PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation quickly dismissed the video, describing it as part of the shenanigans of the ruling APC in the state to confuse the electorate.
In a statement on Friday endorsed by the director of media and publicity of the campaign organisation, Ikenna Onuoha, the party insisted that Senator Anyanwu had not withdrawn from the governorship race as might have been speculated in the social media.
The group described the video of the purported withdrawal as “fake, blatant lie from the pit of hell, very mischievous, ridiculous and misleading.”
Jonathan calls for violence-free elections
Ahead of today’s elections in the three states, former President Goodluck Jonathan has charged politicians and their followers to eschew violence and conduct themselves in a peaceful and lawful manner.
Jonathan also urged the electoral management body, INEC, and the security agencies to be professional and patriotic in the discharge of their responsibilities during and after the elections.
The former president, who said this in a statement he released on Friday, noted that democracy draws its strength from the people, adding that “a man who means well for his people would not recruit thugs to maim and kill the very people he wants to govern.”
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