INEC Backs Presence of Military During Elections

INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega

  James Sowole in Akure

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed support for the presence of the military in the forthcoming elections, saying it would give the electorate confidence to come out and vote.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, stated this in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at a town hall meeting with stakeholders on non-violent electoral participation.

He explained that higher number of people come out to vote when  military personnel are used  on election days because  people feel a sense of security.
However, Agbaje noted that military personnel would not go to polling boots  but only stationed to enforce the non-movement order.

Citing the governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states as examples, the REC  said the elections were successful and free of violence because there was presence of military men.

He also said the  electoral body was already considering how security personnel, observers and Nigerians abroad could be incorporated into the system so that they too could vote, probably on a day.

On the Permanent Voters, Cards (PVCs), the commissioner said all were not yet ready, saying while some PVCs were still being awaited from the INEC headquarters, others were  yet to be collected by their owners.

He disclosed that the collaborative efforts  of the  civil society organisations (CSOs) have assisted the commission especially in the area of  knowledge sharing workshops, voters and civic education, among others.

Agbaje also explained that  a total of 1,073,904 PVCs had been distributed to voters in the state, representing 71.87 per cent as at February  25, 2015, while 420,265 representing 28,13 per cent  are yet to be collected.

He therefore called on the people of the state to shun violence and avoid being used  by any politician who will only use and dump them during election,  adding that it is the responsibility of all to say no to violence during and after the elections.