Election: IGP Raises The Alarm Over Plans To Announce Parallel Results

The inspector-general of police (IGP), Suleman Abba, has raised the alarm over plots by some politicians to declare parallel election results, warning that the police will deal with such persons within the limits of the law.

This comes as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has asked international election observers to respect the sovereignty of Nigeria as they carry out their duties.

Jega and IGP spoke yesterday at the national briefing of Accredited Observers for the 2015 general elections in Abuja.

Suleman said the warning was necessary following threats by certain politicians to declare their own result if what INEC announced was not favorable to them.

He said “We have heard some people are threatening to declare election result, we hope it is not true.

“If you don’t accept the declared result by INEC, the best way is to proceed to the tribunal, doing otherwise, telling the electorates to remain and protect their vote and if it does not favour you take the law into your hands”.

Speaking, the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, while explaining the cardinal distinction between election observation and election monitoring, lamented that observers in the past sometimes over reach their limits which often results in tension and disagreements.

Jega said “According to the INEC Guidelines for Election Observation, there is a fundamental difference between the two. An election monitor is an integral part of the election management structure and has a role in the administration of the election. In Nigeria, only the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) and its duly authorized personnel are empowered to monitor elections.