The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu, met on Friday to ensure adequate security during the elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
INEC in a statement said the meeting between Yakubu and Ribadu is a significant development which will be used to assess the level of preparedness for the off-cycle governorship elections in the three states scheduled for Saturday, 11 November 2023.
The Electoral Commission added that the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) does not want to leave any room for violence during the elections, hence the need for the meeting with a particular focus on logistics and security.
“The meeting brought together top officials from INEC, Security Chiefs, and various security agencies,” the statement read.
“The collaboration between these critical stakeholders underscores their commitment to ensuring the smooth, secure, and credible conduct of elections.”
Attendees at the meeting included INEC National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, the Director-General of the Electoral Institute, Chairman Aides, Directors of the Commission and other staff of Commission.
INEC stated that this diverse representation highlights the comprehensive efforts being made to address the logistical and security challenges associated with these upcoming elections.
The Commission said that discussions in the meeting covered a range of critical issues, including voter access to polling stations, transportation, and distribution of election materials, and security measures to maintain a peaceful electoral process.
According to INEC, these preparations are pivotal to ensuring that the citizens of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States can exercise their democratic rights in a safe and organized manner.