Buhari Talks Tough On Burning Of INEC Offices

The leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The visit followed what the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had described as the “frequent and systematic” attacks on the commission’s offices across the country.

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President Buhari told the INEC management that those attacking the commission’s offices would “soon have the shock of their lives” as his administration would not allow those responsible to destroy the nation.

His senior media assistant, Garba Shehu, quoted him as saying, “I receive daily security reports on the attacks, and it is very clear that those behind them want this administration to fail. 

“Insecurity in Nigeria is now mentioned all over the world. All the people who want power, whoever they are, you wonder what they really want. Whoever wants the destruction of the system will soon have the shock of their lives. We’ve given them enough time.”

Buhari recalled that ahead of the 2019 presidential election, he had visited all the states of the country, “and majority of the people believed me, and the election proved it.”

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Apparently referring to those behind attacks in the South East, the president said, “Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand. We are going to be very hard sooner than later.”

He added that the country’s security chiefs have been changed, “and we will demand security from them.”

Recall that INEC had earlier pegged the number of attacks on its offices since the 2019 general elections at 42.

Mahmood had said that the attacks were, “targeted at demobilising and dismantling critical electoral infrastructure in the country” and warned that INEC’s capacity to conduct elections effectively was being undermined.

“This will not only undermine the commission’s capacity to organise elections and other electoral activities but will also damage the nation’s electoral process and democracy.

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“Indeed, these attacks on the commission’s facilities should now be treated as a national security emergency,” Mahmood had warned.

The meeting had in attendance the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; and INEC National Commissioners, amongst others. 

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