The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has warned that it would not condone any violence in the forth coming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states fixed for September 19 and October 10.
Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who gave the warning on Wednesday, said result would not be declared where the poll is characterised by violence.
Yakubu, while speaking on the preparations for the polls at a virtual workshop organised by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), said the experience in the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections where violence was prevalent had taught the commission a lesson.
His words: “Where the election is disrupted and the commission cannot vouch for the integrity of the process, we will not go ahead to make any declaration. And this we have told the political parties pointblank; you either behave for the elections to be concluded in a free and fair manner or we do what the law says.
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“If we can’t vouch for the credibility of the process, there is no point concluding it and making declaration. That we have committed to.
“The commission will not endorse fraud and what is clearly outside the minimum standard we have set for the conduct of credible elections anywhere.”
Yakubu added: “While elections are disrupted, we should look far beyond the electoral commission. I think you should put your fingers on the problem, on the political class and the security challenges. And that is why we have been engaging with them.”
He reiterated INEC’s commitment to free and fair elections in the two states.
The INEC boss said he had met with the national security adviser, adding: “we are meeting with all the security agencies. We will protect the integrity of the process.”
