Attacks on INEC Offices: Panic over insecurity threatens 2023 polls
That the 2023 election is threatened by insecurity mayhem is not a gainsaying. Fears over the challenges insecurity may pose to the general elections have left stakeholders with outcries emphasizing the need to arrest critical security situation in the Country, to forestall perceived threats capable of colouring the elections with sordid narratives. The perceptions over the threats, have reflected degrees of apprehension, as some would fear insecurity may plague the elections with disturbances, others believe it could render it incredible, while some believe it would deform the entire processes.
The sufferers of insecurity mayhem as it pertains the elections, may be all encompassing across all stakeholders, from the electorates, to political stakeholders, to the candidates/contestants, their parties, as well as other stakeholders as electoral observers. While threats to all would definitely bear their impacts of deformities on the entire process, a fear that has been expressed from different quarters, yet a more striking one in perception is threat against electoral officials. It is indisputable that assurance for the safety of the officials and facilities of the electoral umpire, in this case, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remain key, if any election would be successful and credible.
Experiences of threats during elections, over time, have shown how such instances of attacks on electoral officials have marred and coloured the records of elections in the Country. Threats to the safety of the officials and facilities of the umpire have remained a critical subject in the discourse of insecurity mayhem feared for the elections.
It is evident how the umpire itself, INEC, has recently raised alarm over the threats of insecurity, capable of marring the processes, should actions not be taken to arrest the situation. It is however, saddening that despite the warnings, such fear are allowed gradually to take its reflections across the Country. Sunday night, July 03, 2022, INEC office in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu state was set ablaze by hoodlums, destroying about 748 ballot boxes and 240 voting cubicles in the process. A statement by INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, issued on Monday in Abuja, briefing the incident, reads; “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, reported that our Igboeze North Local Government Area office was set ablaze by unknown arsonists. The attack happened at 11.48pm on Sunday 3rd July 2022.
The arsonists overpowered the security guards, forced their way into the premises and set the building ablaze. Although no casualties were reported, 748 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, office furniture and equipment were destroyed in spite of the best effort of the Enugu State Fire Service deployed from Nsukka. The Commission is working to ascertain the status of voter registration machines for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as well as uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) locked up in the fireproof cabinet.
“The incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police for investigation and further action. The attack, coming in the middle of the voter registration exercise and other preparations for 2023 General Election, is worrisome. It will be recalled that on 23rd May 2021, our office in the neighbouring Igboeze South Local Government Area was attacked in a similar manner by unknown gunmen. This followed earlier attacks on Udenu Local Government Area office on 13th May 2021 and the State Headquarters in Enugu on 16th May 2021. The Commission has since substantially recovered from these attacks and resumed normal activities there, including the CVR and collection of PVCs. The Commission will continue to work with the security agencies and the emergency services to protect our facilities.”
Reoccurring attacks on INEC facilities with casualties on its officials have been taking toll – an ugly trend capable of not only frustrating proper voters’ record, but also destruction of intelligence database, culminating to losses in material and human resources. Mid April, 14, 2022, an attack by gunmen in Imo State, left an official of INEC killed, following an attack on a polling unit where the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) was being held. The incident happened in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east.
In a statement confirming the incident, INEC’s spokesperson, Festus Okoye, had identified the victim as Anthony Nwokorie, disclosing that two other staff of the commission involved in the registration exercise at the polling unit were still missing after the attack. The ugly incident had forced the Commission to suspend the registration exercise in the local council area following the attack.
Where the citizens who form the masses, in their number as the electorates, do not have assuring confidence of their safety, and as such are filled with panic impeding them from trooping out in reasonable number to exercise their franchise, then the essence of democracy is gradually going into extinction in the Country. The guarantee of citizens safety to cast their votes, and those of the electoral umpire to perform their duties without fear of attack, is one sacrosanct demand the Government must awake to ascertain. Anything which reflects sensation of panic over fear of insecurity, informing shunning of polling booths by many, is a record of failure on the Government’s part. It is thus, pressing that the Government arise from the slumber to beef-up security situation in the Country to restore the confidence of assurance of safety among the masses – a sensation which is largely a necessity to drive the flow of activities, accordingly, without glitches, depriving citizens of their statutory obligations.
