Attacks on INEC offices were carried out by politicians and others, according to the IGP
Usman Baba, the Inspector General of Police, has said that recent assaults on INEC officers across the nation are the result of collusion between politicians and other well-known individuals.
The IG made this claim on Friday when he testified before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee looking into attacks on INEC assets nationwide. The IG was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General, Department of Operations, Dandaura Mustapha.
Similar to this, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, issued a warning that the general elections scheduled for 2023 may be derailed by the ongoing attacks on the electoral umpire's property.
Baba noted that the Nigeria Police Force, being the lead agency in internal security and elections generally, was always at the receiving end, stating, “Whatever happens, it is the duty of the police to protect here and there.
“The campaigns commenced and what we realized initially was inter and intra-party disputes. We realized that members of political parties were destroying billboards, posters and campaign offices in some parts of the states. We quickly alerted the commissioners of police in charge of the commands and gave them a clear directive that it is the right of every political party to go to all the nooks and crannies of society and campaign. It is a constitutional right, so on no account does a state governor or any state actor prevent political parties from moving about to do their campaigns.
“We now come to the immediate attacks on INEC facilities. Of recent, the ones that took place in Osun and Ogun, then last week in Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu; it is a well known fact that in the South-East geopolitical zone, we have issues of secessionists – the IPOB and ESN.
These groups are bent on stopping elections from taking place in the South-East. They have been attacking our personnel; they have been retrieving arms from members of the security agencies, not only the police but the military and other paramilitary organisations that are there. They have been doing it, especially now that the embargo on campaigns has been lifted.
“The election is approaching very fast and they are putting much pressure to see that this election will not be held in the South-East geopolitical zone."
The police chief also raised the issue of failing and hopeless politicians who are determined to prevent INEC from holding the elections.
"The failed politicians are those who were unable to return to office through any political party, and in their eyes, everything should spoil and disperse. To ensure that this general election does not take place and should not be successful, they are utilizing that opportunity to sponsor uneducated party supporters and hoodlums, Baba continued.
The IG recounted that on November 17, 2022, he met with INEC officials and political party leaders. At this meeting, it was decided that all political parties might conduct their campaigns in every state, but that they should first communicate with one another."
References
Punchng, 'Politicians, others behind attacks on INEC offices – IGP' (online, 2022) <https://punchng.com/politicians-others-behind-attacks-on-inec-offices-igp/>.
