The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has called on traditional rulers, religious and community leaders to urgently deploy their influence in stopping the wave of post-election violence in some areas of the country.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has called on traditional rulers, religious and community leaders to urgently deploy their influence in stopping the wave of post-election violence in some areas of the country.
He urged the leaders and other citizens to do everything possible to rein in the rampaging mob.
Speaking on Tuesday when the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, visited INEC, Prof. Jega decried wanton attacks that have been unleashed on Youth Corps members who constitute the bulk of ad hoc staff engaged by the Commission for the ongoing general election.
He pledged that INEC would engage appropriate authorities at the highest level towards ensuring the protection of Corps members involved in election duties.
Brig.-Gen. Tsiga had lamented attacks targeted at Corps members by hoodlums perpetrating violence in some areas of the country. The trend, according to him, had become a disincentive for the Corps members engaged in election duties and might dissuade them from continuing with the exercise.
Prof. Jega empathized with the Corps members, but regretted that their succumbing to intimidation at this point would fulfill the objective of the perpetrators of violence. “I want to urge traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and all men of goodwill to do everything within their power in ensuring that these evil people do not achieve their aim.
“We plead with our young and patriotic citizens in the Youth Service not to succumb to fear and thereby allow the people doing these things to achieve their aim of derailing the elections. On our part as INEC, we will engage appropriate authorities at the highest level to provide full protection for Corps members doing our nation a noble and patriotic service through their role in these elections,” he added.
Prof. Jega reassured parents of the safety of their wards, saying no effort will be spared to protect them against further attacks. He again extolled the commitment of the Corps members, as had been commended by domestic and international observers of the elections.
Kayode Idowu
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman
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