A group that monitored the Ekiti State governorship election has stressed the need for the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to request for a reduction of the number of security personnel used in state elections as a way of practicing what the situation will be like in the 2015 elections.
Mr Bola Bakare of the Truth Be Told Network said that the number of security personnel deployed to states for isolated governorship election would not be available during the 2015 elections that will take place in all the states at the same time.
“In terms of security, there was an excessive situation of security personnel in Ekiti State during the election. Do we have to do that? If you are futuristic in your thinking, it is bad. One DIG and two 2 AIG in Ekiti. Do we have 36 DIGs or 72 AIGs to deploy to states during the general elections?
“It is high time you played down on the security you can manage in the general election. Where is he going to get 40,000 policemen in a state in the general election?
“Jega should request a reduction of the number in the Osun State governorship election. He should practice for the general elections where there is going to be a reduction in the number of security personnel that will be available. He should try 20,000 personnel in Osun State to see if it will produce the same result,” Mr Bakare said on Tuesday while commenting on the Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday.
Protocol Of Electioneering
He pointed out that the success recorded in Ekiti State election had instituted a trend expected to be maintained.
“Once a situation occurs it becomes a trend. We are beginning to have a trend here in Nigeria. A trend where people come out to vote and go back home.
“The average Nigerian responds to good situations, though in some cases some things are shoved down our throat, but when we see that it is coming out good, we toe the line.
“I believe that election in Osun will be as peaceful as that of Ekiti State,” he said in optimism.
On the conduct of the Ekiti election, Mr Bakare commended the INEC for observing the protocol of electioneering.
He listed the observed protocols to include, reliable voters’ register, which he said is the spine of electioneering, element of materials, logistics, personnel and security.
According to him, the election was a shift from the Anambra governorship election held in the last quarter of 2013, which the electoral body admitted to have had some irregularities.
“In Anambra there were issues with the voters’ register
“In Ekiti, the register had no glitches. Materials were not missing. They were where they should be.
“INEC staffers were cogent and able to deliver to the level that Nigerians were anticipating.
“The level of improvement he has achieved is quite remarkable. Jega identified the mistake in Anambra and he improved on it and that is why we had a good election in Ekiti and I am sure he will improve on that in Osun State. But at the same time he has to consider the security structure,” he said.
Mr Bakare pointed out that as much as the number of police deployed in a state during election was not in control of the INEC, he said that Jega could request for a certain number of security personnel that should be adhered to.
