The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu stated that nearly 2000 ballot boxes have been destroyed during attacks on facilities iin the last four months, adding that unknown hoodlums attacked five local government offices of the commission.
Yakubu, said this at opening a two-day induction retreat for the commission’s Residents Electoral Commissioners (RECS) in Lagos on Wednesday.
“These facilities, including a total of 1,992 ballot boxes, 399 voting cubicles and 22 electric power generators, and thousands of uncollected PVCs (Permanent Voter Cards), among many other items.
“These attacks must stop and the perpetrators apprehended and prosecuted. Our responsibility is to conduct elections. The best solution for us is the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators,” the INEC chairman said.
He said the timely arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of attacks on its facilities and assets nationwide would end the trend.
“However, I want to assure Nigerians that we will recover from these attacks, those materials will be replaced, but there is a limit to our ability to keep replacing lost items with just 86 days to the general elections.”
According to him, the commission will continue to work with the security agencies, traditional and community leaders and all well-meaning Nigerians to stop the attacks.
He said INEC was committed to ensuring that nothing would stop the elections from going ahead as scheduled,” and the will of Nigerian people will prevail. That is what we have been assuring Nigerians about.”
, Mahmood Yakubu stated that nearly 2000 ballot boxes have been destroyed during attacks on facilities iin the last four months, adding that unknown hoodlums attacked five local government offices of the commission.){kind=link}