•Attacks on INEC offices posses danger to 2023 elections – Observer Group
From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The Nigerian Immigration Service, (NIS) on Monday revealed that over 1000 illegal immigrants were arrested with Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) in Kaduna.
Superintendent Apata Francis who represented the Oyo State Commandant of the service stated this during a South West Stakeholders’ meeting which was organized by Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA).
According to Francis, Nigerian Immigration Service check immigrants before and after entering the country via borders. He said “the illegal immigrants were arrested during the check and PVCs were found on them. We arrested, profiled and detained them them and because, it is an identification offense, we deported them back to their countries”.
Francis added that it’s officers has been trained and would be deployed to prevent influx of foreign nationals during the election, assuring that NIS in the state would behave in accordance to the law guiding the elections.
The organizing body, Centre for Transparency Advocacy, (CTA) an accredited Domestic Election Observer Group therefore frowned at various attacks on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices across the nation, saying the attacks posses danger to the forthcoming general elections.
According to CTA, security is critical in elections and required attention during the entire electoral process, saying the criminal act if unchecked could possed a grave danger to the 2023 General Elections.
Speaking in Ibadan at “Southwest Stakeholders Roundtable on the 2023 General Elections”, the CTA Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi lamented that about 50 incidents and attacks in 15 states of the Federation have been recorded recently.
She enjoined Nigerians to condemn the attacks and joined hands to quench the ugly trend, adding that there should be synergy between the police, and members of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCESS) with stakeholders on election.
He said, “CTA will also be setting up an Election Day Situation Room in Abuja to receive reports in real time from the field observers, we will be glad if the security agencies will share important information with other stakeholders, especially on flash points.”
He however urged citizens to shun voting buying and selling which undermines the election, saying candidates should campaign based on issues and not heat up the polity and creating fears in the hearts of people who want to vote.
“CTA is preparing for the election with the mandate to contribute its quota towards a free, fair, peaceful, inclusive, conclusive, and credible elections, to this effect, the CTA will be engaging various stakeholders to gauge the pulse and preparations of the citizens and the Election Management Body towards the election.”
In his remark, the representative of Police Commissioner in the state, Adebowale Williams said Police and other security agencies in the state are working collectively to ensure roburst security, free, fair and credible poll, adding that his officers have been exposed to different kinds of training in relation with the forthcoming elections
He warned anyone who aimed to distrupt the elections, saying Police would not tolerate any violence as they would arrest and prosecute anyone who cause commotion before, during and after the election.
Meanwhile, the Oyo NSCDC Commandant, Michael Adaralewa on his part said they are prepared to collaborate with other security agencies in the state, saying 85 percent of it’s activities in the first quarter of the year has been centered on the elections.
They said its officers have embarked on series of seminar on electoral law, saying all the lapses in previous elections shall be corrected.
He however said critical national assets shall be protected before, during and after the general elections.
