Kano bye-elections: Security agencies failed –INEC

…Report casts doubt on credibility of election results

From FRED ITUA, Abuja

A damning report released yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has revealed that security agencies, who were on ground in Gaya and Garko state Assembly constituency bye-election last Saturday failed in their responsibilities to curtail the excesses of thugs and criminals during the elections.

According to the report, a copy of which was made available to Daily Sun, armed youths disrupted the electoral process in some areas, harassing and intimidating innocent voters. Electoral officials were also intimidated, harassed and threatened, while some INEC supervisory officials were assaulted. The commission is highly disappointed that the culture of thuggery, intolerance and unruly conduct by partisans yet bedevil the electoral process in our country,” the report read.

“Regrettably, report also showed that despite the overwhelming show of force by armed youths during the bye-election, security agents failed to intervene. INEC is concerned that under the circumstance, the elections were conducted in an unwholesome atmosphere that interfered with voters’ exercise of their freedom of choice.

“The commission hereby affirms that this sort of situation must not be allowed in our political process because it subverts the fundamental principle of free, fair and credible elections. “INEC therefore calls on security agencies to remain vigilant and to promptly intervene, whenever necessary, against the use of thuggery to intimidate or harass voters, thereby subverting the political process,” it concluded.