By Aaron Ossai
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has said that it will not hesitate to take drastic measures against proven irregularities before, during and after the 2023 general elections.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye said that such reported irregularities include voter inducement, harassment and manipulation of results which he said will be reviewed and addressed.
He recalled that earlier on Sunday; the Commission alerted the nation to the invasion of its Obingwa Local Government Area office in Abia State by thugs during the collation of results for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
According to the National Commissioner, in contention was the collated result from the Registration Areas for the Governorship election in that Local Government Area and that the intention was to force the collation of the contentious results.
“The behaviour of these thugs is unacceptable and there will be a thorough review of the results.
“The Commission does not take the patience of citizens for granted and will continue to take steps to protect the integrity of the vote and consolidate the progress made so far in the electoral process”, he declared.
Stating that the Commission left no stone unturned as far as the processes and procedures of elections under its control were concerned he said however that “for difficult and unforeseen circumstances outside the Commission’s control, we did our best to respond, especially where processes were disrupted by actors over whom we have little or no control.”
“Such diabolical behaviour did not only affect citizens but also impacted on the Commission’s officials and processes, INEC staff, both regular and ad hoc , were victims of violence.
“Some of our staff were abducted, harassed, intimidated, hospitalized and in one case killed. Nevertheless, where we could not deploy to enable citizens to vote, the Commission took the decision to remobilize to such places to enable citizens to exercise their franchise.
“Unfortunately, we could not extend the same to areas where voting was disrupted, and election materials destroyed. We are keeping our eyes on those areas and would not hesitate to remobilize where the outcome of the election is affected”, he added.
