Rising Insecurity Forces INEC Staff to Suspend Operations in Kwara North

 

 

Rising Insecurity Forces INEC Staff to Suspend Operations in Kwara North

 

 

Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Patigi and Edu Local Government Areas of Kwara State have reportedly suspended their duties and locked offices amid escalating kidnappings and bandit attacks.

 

According to security sources, intelligence operatives had advised INEC personnel to avoid volatile areas, warning that officials could be targeted as “soft victims” by armed groups. Lade town in Patigi LGA, one source added, has largely been deserted due to repeated criminal attacks.

 

“The INEC staff are scared. They don’t want to risk being kidnapped or attacked,” a source said.

 

The abduction of electoral officials could cause national embarrassment and place additional pressure on the Tinubu administration, another source noted.

 

Residents confirmed that INEC offices remain closed for most of the week, disrupting the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began in August. Many locals said the suspension has weakened public confidence in government assurances of security.

 

One INEC official revealed that there are no funds available to pay ransom in the event of abductions.

 

“We cannot risk our lives in the name of national service. There is no guarantee of safety. If bandits could attack a community shortly after a governor’s visit, then who is safe?” the official said.

 

Fears of insecurity are also prompting residents to flee their homes, raising concerns about potential disenfranchisement ahead of future elections. A community leader in Patigi, speaking anonymously, said:

 

“People want to register to vote and elect a government that guarantees safety. But risking your life just to register is too high a price.”

 

While insecurity grips Kwara North, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been abroad, leaving residents to manage the crisis on their own.

 

Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpet, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), denied that staff had abandoned offices. He confirmed that registration continues at LGA headquarters with support from the police and Civil Defence.

 

“The turnout may be slow due to fear, but registration is ongoing where residents feel secure,” Dr. Longpet said.

 

Without urgent interventions, thousands of eligible voters in Edu and Patigi LGAs risk being unable to participate in upcoming elections.