…Orders security beef-up around INEC premises

BY DANIEL IDONOR

ABUJA-PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan,yesterday, the nation’s security agencies to take immediate steps to beef up security at all Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, premises across the country.

The directive came in the wake of the heinous bomb attack on the office of the INEC in Suleija, Niger State yesterday evening.

President Jonathan who condemned in strong terms the barbaric attack gave the order in a statement by Mr Ima Niboro, Special Adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.

He “totally condemns the mindless bomb attack which claimed the lives of several Nigerians including members of the National Youth Service Corps engaged in preparatory work for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country”.

The statement said “the President’s deepest sympathies go the families of these patriotic youth and he wishes to assure them that the Federal Government will do everything possible to bring their murderers to justice”.

President Jonathan urges all INEC officials engaged in the conduct of the general elections which begin today not to be discouraged or daunted by the dastardly attack on their colleagues in Suleija.

He urged them to go about their duties with the assurance that the Federal Government will take immediate action to strengthen security measures already put in place to ensure their safety in all parts of the country.

He also urges “all eligible Nigerians to resist all attempts to deter them from participating in the elections through violence designed to incite fear, and to put the perpetrators of electoral violence to shame by turning out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice today.