The Centre for Crisis Communication, CCC, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as well as other security agencies directly involved in the electoral process to exercise their constitutional duties with absolute neutrality.
A statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the centre, Yusuf Anas who is a retired air-commodore, noted with concern the over-heating of the polity by politicians due to the postponement of Presidential/National Assembly elections by the INEC.
The centre commended Nigerians for their patience and understanding in the wake of the postponement.
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The executive secretary, therefore, called on the INEC to ensure that “what led to the postponement of the elections would have been resolved by now.”
“The concerns expressed by Nigerians are genuine and a clear demonstration of their enthusiasm to be active players in the democratic process of the fourth republic.
“The Centre calls on INEC to ensure that what led to the postponement of the elections would have been resolved by now and calls on the electoral umpire to exercise absolute neutrality in the conduct of the election.
“The Centre urges Nigerians to come out en masse to vote for candidates of their choices in the rescheduled elections starting from Saturday, 23 February 2019.
“It is our hope that INEC will speedily overcome all its challenges and conduct free, fair and credible elections that will be a panacea for peace and stability in Nigeria,” the statement added.
The executive secretary, therefore, urged all security agencies deployed for elections to be proactive and conduct themselves professionally by carrying out their duties with absolute neutrality devoid of bias,
According to him, the media and Civil Society Organisations should also continue to monitor and keep Nigerians abreast before, during and after the elections.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the centre is at the forefront of providing credible and professional crisis information and early warning alerts to strategic institutions with the view of taking appropriate measure towards ensuring adequate security as well as promoting peaceful coexistence in the country.
The CCC works in close liaison with military, security, intelligence and response agencies in Nigeria.
It meets with the Heads of Information Departments of all the agencies under the umbrella of the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies, FOSSRA.
