As political parties intensify electioneering campaigns ahead of the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, has charged security agencies to be vigilant in dealing with any threat to peaceful conduct of the elections. 

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who gave the charge at a meeting with the Inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES), in Abuja, stressed the need for security agencies to collaborate with the Commission to ensure adequate protection of election officials, logistics for the movement of personnel and materials, polling and collation activities are not disrupted. He also urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to maintain peace during and after the elections.

Representing the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director, Internal Security, Hassan Abdullahi warned that any attempt to undermine, or disrupt the peaceful conduct of the polls would be viewed as an assault on the nation’s democratic values and promptly resisted.