The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has moved electoral materials and documentation from its Lokoja office to Abuja in response to growing security risks following the Kogi State governorship election on November 11.
News About Nigeria gathered that the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, issued the directive, attributing the decision mostly to security reasons.
On Friday afternoon, under strict security, the materials—which included election results, records from the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and other important documents—were loaded onto no fewer than four trucks and driven to the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an INEC official revealed that the decision was made to ensure the safety of the materials, given the series of attacks on INEC officials, offices, and members of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal by thugs allegedly sponsored by unknown politicians.
The official said that the directive came from higher authorities within the commission and aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the election process.
“The materials used in prosecuting the November 11 governorship election are no longer safe here (in Kogi) because of incessant attacks on INEC officials, offices, and tribunal members by thugs sponsored by unknown politicians. Therefore, the commission ordered the removal of the materials to a safe place,” the source stated.
The move follows the relocation of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to the National Judicial Council complex in Jabi, Abuja, as a result of security threats in Lokoja.
Election material safety concerns were raised by recent attacks on the INEC office in Lokoja and the residence of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Hale Longpet, on December 1, 2023.
While no lives were lost in the attacks, there were reports of property destruction during the gun battle that lasted for over 30 minutes at the INEC office in Lokoja.
Furthermore, on his way to court, David Mike, the Secretary of the Kogi State Election Petitions Tribunal, was attacked by thugs and narrowly escaped serious physical injury. During the attack, petition materials were taken.
Both INEC and the Kogi State Police Command have separately confirmed the attack on the INEC office in Lokoja and the threats to the safety of election materials through official statements.
