2027: ICCES Warns Against Political Thuggery In Kogi

The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Kogi State has warned political parties and their supporters against thuggery, intimidation, vote-buying and other acts capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections.

The committee issued the warning on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting with leaders and candidates of registered political parties at the conference hall of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Lokoja.

The meeting, chaired by the state Commissioner of Police and Co-Chairman of ICCES, CP Bello Kankorfi, was aimed at strengthening inter-agency collaboration and ensuring a peaceful, free and credible electoral process.

Heads of security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Correctional Service, attended the meeting.

Deliberations focused on security arrangements across the 21 local government areas, compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, campaign guidelines, the prevention of political violence and the need for political parties to caution their supporters against acts capable of disrupting public peace before, during and after the elections.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for political parties to raise concerns about security deployment, movement restrictions on election day and INEC’s preparedness for the polls.

Some opposition parties alleged cases of political thuggery, voter intimidation, violence and the molestation of their supporters in parts of the state.

Specifically, alleged attacks on members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ofu Local Government Area and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Gegu, Kogi Local Government Area, were brought before the committee, with calls for thorough investigations and the prosecution of those responsible.

In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi State, Dr Shehu Lawal, said ICCES had put measures in place to provide adequate security for INEC officials, electoral materials and voters.

He assured political parties and candidates that the forthcoming presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State House of Assembly elections would be conducted in a free, fair, credible and transparent manner.

Lawal disclosed that INEC had commenced early preparations, including stakeholder engagement, voter education and logistical arrangements, to ensure hitch-free elections.

He urged political parties to cooperate with the commission by complying with electoral guidelines, submitting their campaign schedules on time and sensitising their supporters to the need for peaceful conduct.

The REC stressed that INEC would remain neutral and would not condone electoral malpractice, adding that the commission was committed to upholding the Constitution and protecting the democratic rights of Nigerians.

Also speaking, Kankorfi assured political parties that all complaints presented before the committee, including the alleged attacks on SDP members in Ofu and ADC supporters in Gegu, would be thoroughly investigated without bias.

He warned that the police and other security agencies would not tolerate political thuggery, intimidation or violence, stressing that anyone found disrupting public peace would face the full wrath of the law, irrespective of status or political affiliation.

The police commissioner said security agencies had developed a comprehensive strategy involving enhanced intelligence gathering, joint patrols in identified flashpoints, the deployment of adequate personnel across the 21 local government areas and close monitoring of campaign activities.

He added that security agencies would discharge their duties professionally and impartially, assuring stakeholders that no political party would be given undue advantage.

Kankorfi also urged political parties to submit their campaign schedules to the police command to facilitate adequate security coverage, warning them against engaging thugs to provide security at campaign venues.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to maintaining peace in the state and pledged that the outcome of investigations into the alleged attacks would be made public.

Meanwhile, opposition parties urged INEC and security agencies to remain neutral, objective and transparent in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities, saying this was necessary to build public confidence in the electoral process.

The meeting ended with a commitment by stakeholders to strengthen cooperation and work towards violence-free elections in Kogi State.