2019 Elections: CCC Cautions Security Agencies, Electoral Body on Neutrality

2019 Elections: CCC Cautions Security Agencies, Electoral Body on Neutrality
… Urges Nigerians to be Law-Abiding and Vote Peacefully

The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) which is actively involved in collecting, collating, processing, harmonizing and disseminating information on any crisis or potential crisis situation in the country, notes with concern the over-heating of the polity by politicians due to the postponement of Presidential/National Assembly and other elections by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Centre, in the forefront in crisis information management in the country, appreciates Nigerians for their patience and understanding in the wake of the postponement.

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-mass 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 Centre has been providing credible and professional crisis information and early warning alerts to strategic institutions with the view of taking approprite measure towards ensuring adequate security as well as promoting peaceful coexistence in the country. It therefore urge all security agencies deployed for elections to be proactive and conduct themselves professionally by carrying out their duties with absolute neutrality devoid of bias, while the media and Civil Society Organisations should continue to monitor and keep Nigerians abreast before, during and after the elections.

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).

Signed,
Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd)
Executive Secretary