INEC identifies poverty, illiteracy, ignorance as causes of electoral violence

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has identified poverty, illiteracy and ignorance as the major causes of electoral violence in Kogi State.

The electoral body also said politicians' intense desperation, fueled by rabid greed and tribal sentiments, are also factors that had caused violence in the state.

Speaking yesterday at Idah during a two-- day zonal training organized for security personnel ahead of the November 16 Kogi State Governorship election, INEC Chief Administration Officer, Tony Ezemor, averred that it was sad that in-spite of all the measures put in place by the commission to conduct free, fair and credible elections in the past, some politicians still see the whole exercise as a do- or -die affair.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the training which was attended by personnel from the Police, Army, Navy, Civil Defence Corps, Correctional Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Immigration and the Department of State Security, was organized by the European Centre for Electoral Support.

INEC which identified some people as conflict entrepreneurs, said such people take delight in sponsoring crisis by using ethnic cleavages and religious sentiments, because of what they will gain.

While appealing to the security personnel to always remain neutral and strictly follow the rules of engagement, before, during and after the forth-coming election, the commission also urged them to shun acts that are capable of portraying Nigeria in bad light before the international community.

Fresh Angle International can report that the participants were trained on how to identify security threats, risks and the principles of election security, in a bid to be able to apply the legal frame work governing electoral security.

×