Insecurity: AYCF Urges INEC To Reconsider The Announced Date For Primaries
By: Femi Mustapha Oyelola
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider the announced date, or at best, stagger the primaries based on security and intelligence information from the various states, especially in well-known flashpoints of violence and arsenal
The National President of AYCF Alhaji Yerima Shettima stated this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna on 15th May, 2022.
The Forum also urges the security and intelligence service to guide INEC on the safest places to conduct primaries without endangering the lives of innocent voters.
The Forum stressed that life is so valuable that we cannot afford to sacrifice it on the grounds of discharging our civic duties. Ordinarily, only people who are alive can vote and voted for,” it said.
AYCF explained they made the suggestions in the interest of safe and peaceful conduct of the primaries across Nigeria, as the nation prepares for a successful 2023 general elections.
“We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider the announced date, or staggers the primaries based on security and intelligence information from the various states, especially in well-known flashpoints of violence and arson,” it stressed.
The group said that they have been following with keen interest the state of the nation in the forthcoming primary elections, coming in less than two weeks – going by INEC’s latest official announcement, which they believe is regarding the electoral body’s constitutional mandate.
“We stand to be corrected, but we believe Professor Yakubu has repeatedly showed a respect for justice and we are hopeful he will stick to the straight path.
“We urge him to sustain this tempo. After due consultation with the AYCF executives and members, as well as other relevant stakeholders, we wish to observe:-
Holding party primaries across many States of the Federation (North and South) at the moment may not be feasible because of the growing tensions everywhere:
There are the planned nationwide students’ protests in solidarity with ASUU;
And media reports suggest that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has directed all the state chapters of the religious body to embark on nationwide street protests over the death of a female student accused of blasphemy in Sokoto State, culminating in imposing a 24-hour curfew.;
The massive killing of non-indigenous traders by unknown gunmen in the South-East and attack of government facilities has not abated.
The increasing incidence of cultists clashes that leave many innocent souls dead and politically motivated violence has not been successfully reduced to the barest minimum yet.
The challenges of kidnapping, banditry and insurgency, gunrunning and a flourishing illicit drug business are worsening by the day.
