By Ben Adoga
Barely a few days to the February 12 Area council elections in the FCT, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has assured that all modalities have been put in place for peaceful elections in the nation’s capital.
Prof. Yakubu gave the assurance Thursday at the FCT expanded security council meeting which took place in the FCDA Hall, Area Eleven, Abuja.
The INEC chairman who addressed members of the FCT security council, comprising all security agencies in the FCT, traditional rulers, and stakeholders made it clear that come February 12, with the arrangements on the ground, the FCT area council elections would be peaceful.
“I assure all of you of peaceful elections on Saturday next week,” he stated emphatically.
He also noted that it is only in the FCT that INEC was required by law to conduct local government elections and that they were ready for it.
The chair of the Electoral Management Body also revealed that 473 candidates were being sponsored by 14 political parties for the February 12 elections. Out of these, 110 candidates are for the chairmanship position while 363 candidates are for councillorship positions.
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He said preparations included enough INEC staff who are mobilized for the job, voter and personnel protection, going by the nonpharmaceutical protocols as required by NCDC, transport arrangement which includes bikes and boats, security personnel who are trained to be professional in line with the code of conduct for election security.
He also noted that the Commission was happy with the behavior of voters and parties in the FCT as there has been no clash so far and no incidences of hate speech all through the campaign.
He, however, noted that there are eight litigations so far arising from nominations and qualifications of which some have gone up to the Supreme Court.
He called on all stakeholders to cooperate with the Commission for a successful election come February 12.
On his part, Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, chief host of the meeting commended INEC for what they have been doing and urged them to deliver on credible elections, come February 12.
