From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi; Paul Osuyi, Asaba, Noah Ebije, Kaduna, Tony John, Port Harcourt and Stanley Uzoaru, Imo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be conducting governorship elections in the three states of Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa. In this report, some Nigerians from different states express their expectations from the electoral umpire and the security agencies.
INEC should make the votes count -Austin Onuoha, public analyst, Makurdi
We expect that the police would play their role of providing security for the electoral materials and protecting the voters if the need arises. For INEC, it is difficult to say because what happened in February elections is a pointer to things we don’t understand. Recall that in Imo State, some of the parties have called for the redeployment of the INEC REC. Apart from the fact that the police commissioner has been redeployed, the politicians are complaining that the REC is still there. All we ask from her is let the votes count. They should not write results from their rooms and bedrooms. If people come out to vote, let it count so that when the people hear the results, they will know that yes, this is how we voted.
INEC, police should ensure professionalism – Jude Maiwada, activist, Makurdi
While INEC must be impartial and remain neutral during the electoral process in those states, they must ensure the process is timely and efficient with clear professionalism. I expect the police to ensure safe and secure environment for voters, candidates and election officials. This includes preventing violence, and minimizing any potential threats.
We should not have a situation where people are killed – Justin Gbagir, social activist, Makurdi
These elections have given INEC another opportunity to improve on the general elections that were conducted in February and March this year. There were some technical issues with the BIVAS and uploading of results and other logistic issues. We hope that they will improve on these elections and between now and the next election in 2027, they will also do better in conducting peaceful and credible elections devoid of challenges.
In elections, all of us have a responsibility to ensure that it is peaceful. When the actors; politicians and their supporters see election as a do or die affair, we begin to experience violence. So the gladiators must play according to the rules. And for the police, I have always expected them to be professional in dealing with election situations. We are not in a war situation but where there are people that want to disrupt the process, we expect them to handle it professionally. We should not have situations where people are killed. We must all behave well so that the police can also do their job too.
Security agencies should clamp down anyone fomenting trouble – Elder John Fwah, community leader, Kaduna
There’s no gainsaying the fact that Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States are dangerously hot spots in the issue of security with the off season elections by the corner. Incidents of killings, kidnapping, arson and threats to lives and property of opponents, candidates, political party officials, supporters have become daily occurrences. Candidates and party officials point accusing fingers at each other and none would ever admit blame.
From what is happening and from all indications, security issue is an all-stakeholders affair, namely, INEC, political parties and security agencies are on the front burner. Interestingly all of them have participated in stakeholders’ peace and security meetings where they signed peace accord.
The security agencies have a duty to conduct security meetings with stakeholders especially politicians to caution their supporters on the importance of adhering to the rules of the game. They should clamp down on all those youth involved in causing troubles in and around polling stations or units on election day.
Chance for INEC to restore confidence – Ibrahim Lapinni, activist, Kaduna
The security agencies have several times given the assurance of their readiness to tackle any trouble makers and thugs. Security agencies should walk the talk or else it will amount to propaganda and monotonous. Nigerians would want to see electoral offenders punished by the appropriate authority so as to put a stop to all the nuisances of electoral process. The security agencies should also up their games and be more proactive and also ensure there is an improved security throughout the election period. This is another chance for INEC to do everything within its power to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the commission by ensuring free, fair and credible elections in these three states of Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo.
INEC should be truly independent – Chilos Godsent, political leader, Owerri
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will live up to people’s expectation by conducting a free, fair and transparent election that is not characterised by violence and electoral malpractices. INEC should be truly independent and not allow itself to be manipulated. Security operatives that will be deployed to election duties to conduct their work should be professional and avoid the bribes.
Security agencies should be professional and neutral – Enefaa Georgewill, activist, Port Harcourt
We would expect that INEC would improve based on the backlash it received from the ordinary people on the streets in the last general election. Even the courts lavishly explained the incompetence of INEC. One would expect that the grey areas people are complaining are addressed. One would expect INEC to use the election to correct its image. On security agencies, one would expect them to be very professional and neutral, and ensure all political parties are given equal opportunity, most especially not allow the party in power to deploy all security operatives to subdue the opposition.
INEC should correct ills of last presidential, governorship elections – Christian Njigwum, lawyer
One of the things that I and other Nigerians expect INEC to do is not to repeat history, because the history is that, this year, we did presidential, governorship and other elections in other states. So many people came out to vote. But they discovered that their votes did not count. This is because Nigerians discovered that there might have been some compromise coming from INEC. On security, Nigerians expect security agencies and their personnel to be neutral and exhibit high level professionalism in their conduct. Security agencies should know that they are protecting taxpayers.
Security agencies shouldn’t dance to the tune of politicians -Omubo Harry, elder statesman, Port Harcourt
INEC, in particular, should take record of their past mistakes and correct them, so that we can have a good and credible election for the people to make them have confidence in INEC. Security agencies should perform their responsibilities without bias. They should be able to do their work which they are being paid for. They should not dance to the tunes of politicians. Security agencies are independent bodies securing the communities, country and the citizens. They should focus on their responsibilities without being a tool in the hands of politicians.
INEC, security agents must be up and doing – Dave Okpogadie, social commentator, Asaba
My expectation from INEC is that they should be up to their responsibilities because Nigerians are watching and looking up to them not to disappoint. I think they should work on the lapses that were observed in previous elections and try to be an unbiased umpire, such that after the results are declared, even the losers will feel that they lost fairly. And the post-election bad blood will not be there. As for the security agents that have been drafted to the various states, I also expect them to leave up to their responsibilities as well so that there will not be any form of insecurity during and after the elections. The security agencies should monitor their personnel that had been drafted because in the past, we are aware that these people compromised. So they should be monitored to ensure that such ugly scenario does not repeat itself such that at the end of the day, both the losers and winners will know that the election was free and fair. That way, Nigerians’ interest in the democratic process would be intact because as it is now, a lot of people are beginning to lose confidence in the democratic process. But if INEC and the security agencies are able to get it right in this coming election in these states, I think it will boost the morale of Nigerians and it will be better for all of us
INEC, security agencies should ensure accountability – Victor Ojie, human rights activist; Asaba
I would expect INEC and the security agencies to ensure that there is transparency and accountability in the electoral process. Security and safety of voters and election officials; equal access to all eligible voters; results are uploaded in real time and accurate information released at the appropriate time; compliance with the electoral laws and guidelines for the conduct of the polls, and that they remain impartial during the processes; investigate any reported infraction and bring culprits to account; support election observers to allow them monitor the exercise in the concerned states; and ensure proper collaboration and coordination among stakeholders. These expectations are crucial for upholding the democratic process and ensuring a free and fair gubernatorial election in these states.
