THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned the political parties and their supporters to see election as a contest and not a war.
The electoral umpire urged politicians and candidates to refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of personnel, observers, the media and service providers.
The Chairman of INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu, disclosed this at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 14.
The meeting reviewed preparations for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for March, 18,2023.
“The State elections will involve 1,021 constituencies (28 Governorship and 993 State Assembly seats). There will also be more candidates involved and more collation centres to protect”,
“refrain from acts of violence that may mar the elections or compromise the security of our personnel, observers, the media and service providers,” he said.
Mahmoud said that INEC offices at the State level had given the Nigeria Police Force the delimitation information for the State Assembly and Governorship elections, including the locations of Polling Units and Collation Centers, in order to facilitate a coordinated deployment strategy with other security, law enforcement, and safety agencies.
The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, said the Security Personnel were ready to provide a level playing ground for all Contestants in the election.
Monguno also called on Politicians to play according to the rules in the interest of all.
The Governorship elections would take place in 28 States of the Federation and all State constituencies nationwide.
A reporter with the ICIR
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