The Independent National Electoral Commission has
said it currently has no plan to shift the governorship elections
scheduled to hold on Tuesday next week.
This was sequel to fears being expressed over the security situation in some northern states.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, on Wednesday.
He said the commission was going ahead with its preparations for the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections as scheduled.
When asked if the governorship elections would hold on Tuesday as scheduled he responded, “For now, there is no information to the contrary.”
The commission’s chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had held a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners on Tuesday to take stock of their preparations for the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, INEC has said the commission would provide adequate security for National Youth Service Corps members during the elections.
Jega, who reacted on Wednesday to the post election violence in some states in the North, said “INEC received with utter dismay, reports of wanton attacks on its full and ad hoc staff” (NYSC members) in the last two elections.
He said “Our commission is determined to provide maximum security for all election field workers, especially our ad hoc staff.
“Already, we have engaged appropriate authorities at the highest level to ensure the protection of corps members and all other ad hoc staff involved in election duties.
“We have received reports that these young men and women have become targets of attacks by unscrupulous persons, whose obvious objective is to derail the elections by intimidating them (corps members) and scaring them away from their patriotic service to the nation.
“They have worked in these elections with uncommon courage and diligence. Indeed, their role has been widely commended by both domestic and international observers.
“I am deeply saddened that some of them have suffered losses on account of their selfless investment in the future of our country.”
He called on traditional rulers and community leaders to assist in providing “a secure environment for these patriotic young men and women deployed on election duties in their domains.”
In Bauchi State where corps members on Wednesday vowed not to participate in the April 26 elections, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria claimed that rioters killed more than 30 Christians and burnt about 74 churches.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amana Abakasanga, had said on Tuesday said that out of the 51 youth corpers sent to some council areas, four were confirmed dead while 20 others were in the custtody of the State Security Service.
Abakasanga added that the whereabout of the remaining 27 corps members was unknown.
One of the corps members, who did not want his name in print, said, “We are not going to be part of the general elections anymore.
“We are not even ready to serve again. If I find my way now, I will go back to my village. The government should please, stop sending us to the North.”
Another corps member also claimed that INEC had failed to pay them their allowances since the beginning of the elections.
He added, “The insensitivity that had been displayed by the government as regards our security is enough for us to not to continue with the conduct of the polls.”
Before their threat, the Director-General of the NYSC, Maj.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, had sent text messages to all the corps members , assuring them of adequate security.
The message by Tsiga reads, “Remain calm wherever you are. We are on top of the situation nationwide. Focus on your patriotic and national duty and let no one mislead you. God will see us through.”
The state chairman of CAN, Rev. Musa Tula, had at a news conference in Bauchi vowed that Christians would resist further attacks if the Federal and the state governments failed to halt the violence being unleashed on them.
Tula said, “Let it be known that no longer would the Christians watch aloof, while their wives and children are being killed . We shall no longer succumb to intimidations or threats.
“Eleven Christians have so far been confirmed dead, several others wounded while four churches and properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed in Bauchi metropolis alone.
“In Giade Local Government Area, 16 Christians were brutally killed including a policewoman and another whose hands were mutilated. Also, four churches and many properties belonging to Christians were burnt in the area.
“In Itas-Gadau, three Christians, including two corps members were killed, many wounded and several churches and properties destroyed.”
By John Alechenu and Sunday Ojeme, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
This was sequel to fears being expressed over the security situation in some northern states.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, on Wednesday.
He said the commission was going ahead with its preparations for the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections as scheduled.
When asked if the governorship elections would hold on Tuesday as scheduled he responded, “For now, there is no information to the contrary.”
The commission’s chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had held a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners on Tuesday to take stock of their preparations for the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, INEC has said the commission would provide adequate security for National Youth Service Corps members during the elections.
Jega, who reacted on Wednesday to the post election violence in some states in the North, said “INEC received with utter dismay, reports of wanton attacks on its full and ad hoc staff” (NYSC members) in the last two elections.
He said “Our commission is determined to provide maximum security for all election field workers, especially our ad hoc staff.
“Already, we have engaged appropriate authorities at the highest level to ensure the protection of corps members and all other ad hoc staff involved in election duties.
“We have received reports that these young men and women have become targets of attacks by unscrupulous persons, whose obvious objective is to derail the elections by intimidating them (corps members) and scaring them away from their patriotic service to the nation.
“They have worked in these elections with uncommon courage and diligence. Indeed, their role has been widely commended by both domestic and international observers.
“I am deeply saddened that some of them have suffered losses on account of their selfless investment in the future of our country.”
He called on traditional rulers and community leaders to assist in providing “a secure environment for these patriotic young men and women deployed on election duties in their domains.”
In Bauchi State where corps members on Wednesday vowed not to participate in the April 26 elections, the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria claimed that rioters killed more than 30 Christians and burnt about 74 churches.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amana Abakasanga, had said on Tuesday said that out of the 51 youth corpers sent to some council areas, four were confirmed dead while 20 others were in the custtody of the State Security Service.
Abakasanga added that the whereabout of the remaining 27 corps members was unknown.
One of the corps members, who did not want his name in print, said, “We are not going to be part of the general elections anymore.
“We are not even ready to serve again. If I find my way now, I will go back to my village. The government should please, stop sending us to the North.”
Another corps member also claimed that INEC had failed to pay them their allowances since the beginning of the elections.
He added, “The insensitivity that had been displayed by the government as regards our security is enough for us to not to continue with the conduct of the polls.”
Before their threat, the Director-General of the NYSC, Maj.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, had sent text messages to all the corps members , assuring them of adequate security.
The message by Tsiga reads, “Remain calm wherever you are. We are on top of the situation nationwide. Focus on your patriotic and national duty and let no one mislead you. God will see us through.”
The state chairman of CAN, Rev. Musa Tula, had at a news conference in Bauchi vowed that Christians would resist further attacks if the Federal and the state governments failed to halt the violence being unleashed on them.
Tula said, “Let it be known that no longer would the Christians watch aloof, while their wives and children are being killed . We shall no longer succumb to intimidations or threats.
“Eleven Christians have so far been confirmed dead, several others wounded while four churches and properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed in Bauchi metropolis alone.
“In Giade Local Government Area, 16 Christians were brutally killed including a policewoman and another whose hands were mutilated. Also, four churches and many properties belonging to Christians were burnt in the area.
“In Itas-Gadau, three Christians, including two corps members were killed, many wounded and several churches and properties destroyed.”
By John Alechenu and Sunday Ojeme, Abuja Courtesy Of: Punch
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