PDP Outlines Reasons For Apprehension Regarding Violence In Bayelsa, Kogi, And Imo Governorship Polls

Representing the party’s views in Abuja on Sunday, PDP’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, pinpointed one of the factors contributing to electoral violence as the delayed delivery of election materials…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

During his appearance on Channels Television’s People’s Townhall on Election Security in Abuja, Bature called upon the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

to ensure the prompt arrival of both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials in the three states where the off-cycle gubernatorial election is slated for November 11, 2023.

Furthermore, he urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to identify the masterminds behind electoral violence in the three states, saying, “In my view, the instigators of these conflicts in these areas should be identified before Friday to help defuse this violence.”

Bature continued, “Turning to INEC, one of the major causes of violence is the late arrival of election materials. Sometimes, it is a tactic employed by the stronger political party in the region.

They intentionally delay the delivery of election materials to prolong the voting process into the late hours, which can trigger violence.”

He emphasized the critical importance of timely delivery of election materials and called on the police to deploy officers and identify the instigators in identified flashpoint areas, where people are already planning for violence. Bature stressed that security agencies should be proactive in protecting voters.

Bature also noted that if President Bola Tinubu, despite being a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

maintains his assurance that he has no preferred candidate in the polls, it could significantly reduce the level of violence before, during, and after the elections.

Meanwhile, INEC has pledged to provide real-time updates of polling unit results on the Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Mary Nkem, the Acting Director of Voter Education and Publicity, made this commitment on behalf of Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

Nkem affirmed that INEC had addressed the issues experienced during the 2023 general elections and is fully prepared to conduct free, fair, and credible off-cycle elections.

She mentioned that plans were in place to ensure the early deployment of sensitive materials to polling units, including having ad hoc officers camp near polling units the day before the exercise.

Nkem further explained that sensitive materials would be transported from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) vaults to Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states by Monday.

The Commission had also conducted a mock accreditation in all three states last month to confirm the functionality of the BVAS, accrediting voters and uploading polling unit results to the IReV, which were successfully executed.

The Inspector General of Police assured voters and stakeholders in the three states of providing adequate security to ensure a safe and peaceful election.