The election monitoring Civil Society Organisation, YIAGA Africa, has expressed concerns over the perceived high level of insecurity and violence in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa ahead of the off-cycle governorship elections in the states.
Expressing its concern in its pre-election statement, the CSO disclosed that it was worried about the obnoxious abuse of incumbency powers that manifested through restrictions of campaigns, imposition of fines and levies on campaign posters and attacks on political opponents.
The statement read partly, “Yiaga Africa expresses concern with the unassailable level of insecurity and the spate of violence across the states, especially in Imo and Kogi states. Also concerning is the obnoxious abuse of incumbency powers manifesting through restrictions of campaigns, imposition of fines and levies on campaign posters and attacks on political opponents.
“The lack of accountability for the fatalities and attacks recorded in the pre-election period deepens the culture of impunity pervading the electoral process.”
Calling for a collaboration between the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies, Yiaga further suggested that the successful administration of a peaceful and transparent election was dependent on “the effective collaboration and coordination with respective institutions like the INEC, the Nigerian Police and other security agencies.”
A security analyst Kabir Adamu had earlier revealed that 133 violence cases have been recorded in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa ahead of the off-cycle governorship election scheduled to take place this Saturday.
Adamu detailed that Imo and Kogi had more cases of violence.
