- NSA alleges plots to cause unrest
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on local and International observers accredited for the general elections not to interfere with the exercise or show partisanship.
About 144,800 national and 2,113 international observers are to monitor the elections which begin on Saturday with the Presidential and National Assembly polls. The observers are drawn from 229 national groups and 33 international observer groups.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu gave the advice just as the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno said the government was aware of plots by “subversive local and their international collaborators” to cause civil unrest during elections.
Briefing the observers from 260 local and international groups in Abuja, Yakubu said as guests of INEC, “there is a code of conduct for election observation,” that they must comply with.
He said: “You are by definition observers. Do not interfere with the process or show partisanship. In addition, international observers must be guided by the fact that the election is conducted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria whose sovereignty must be respected.
“I urge you all to keep to the rules, listen to the presentation to be made shortly and ask questions where you require further clarification..”
The INEC boss, who described the number of observers as the largest in the history of elections in Nigeria, said their accreditation was in line with “global good practice.”
His words: “In line with global good practice, electoral commissions in most jurisdictions invite national and international organisations to deploy observers or organise study tours for election managers during elections.
“As a consequence, observers submit reports to electoral commissions highlighting strengths and weaknesses of processes.
“Arising from study tours, election managers also learn from other jurisdictions. The reports and recommendations of observers and the knowledge from the study tours help electoral commissions to progressively improve processes.
“The progressive improvement in our electoral democracy since 1999 draws in part from the reports of observers and the study tours. That is why over the years, the commission has sent open or specific invitations to national and international observers.
“The implication is that all accredited observers are guests of INEC.
“For the 2023 General Election beginning this weekend with the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Commission has accredited 196 national or domestic groups that are collectively deploying 144,800 observers.
“Similarly, the Commission accredited 33 international organisations deploying 2,113 observers. In all, 229 groups are deploying 146,913 observers for the 2023 General Election.
“Today’s briefing for observers is in keeping with international good practice.”
*NSA alleges plots to cause unrest
Also yesterday, NSA Monguno said the government was aware of plots by subversive elements to use the currency redesign brouhaha to create unrest before and during the elections.
Monguno said that security agents have been directed to deal decisively with such persons if identified.
He raised the alarm during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security hosted by INEC..
Monguno, represented by Sanusi Galadima, blamed electoral violence at campaign rallies on “political actors and their sponsored thugs.”
The NSA said: “There is an escalation of violence during electioneering across the country. This is in spite of the peace accord endorsed by all the presidential standard bearers.
“This ugly trend is created largely by the attitude of political actors, their sponsored thugs and other unpatriotic elements. This has further hampered the efforts of security and intelligence agencies to effectively neutralise the prevailing security situation across the country.
“It is obstructive to state that government is very much aware of plots by domestic subversive elements and their external collaborators to use the current socio-economic climate in the country due to well-intended government policies to organise civil unrest during the election.
“In this vein and in line with Mr President’s commitment to ensure a peaceful transition of political power to a democratically elected government through a free, fair and credible election, security agents have been charged to ensure lawful deployment to deal decisively with any individual or group involved, no matter how highly placed.”
INEC Chairman Yakubu said the commission was encouraged by the assurances of security agencies, especially the Police.
A revised code of conduct and rules of engagement for security personnel on election duty was unveiled at the meeting.
The Nation
