The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Plateau State, Godwin Kwanga, has said most election observers are obstacles to the success of polls.

Mr. Kwanga said this on Tuesday at a meeting of the heads of security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, candidates of some political parties, traditional rulers and the public, held at the Hill-station Hotel in Jos.

Mr. Kwanga, who was recently posted to the state, said most of the election observers who monitored elections in the about 10 states including Abuja where he conducted elections, dished out wrong information to the public thereby creating disharmony between INEC and political parties.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Plateau State, Godwin Kwanga, has said most election observers are obstacles to the success of polls.

Mr. Kwanga said this on Tuesday at a meeting of the heads of security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, candidates of some political parties, traditional rulers and the public, held at the Hill-station Hotel in Jos.

Mr. Kwanga, who was recently posted to the state, said most of the election observers who monitored elections in the about 10 states including Abuja where he conducted elections, dished out wrong information to the public thereby creating disharmony between INEC and political parties.

The Plateau REC told the security heads to instruct their men at polling units during elections not to allow non-accredited observers by INEC to monitor the forthcoming elections.
The INEC boss said his office would be strict on election observers, both internal/external observers and political party agents during the polls.

Mr. Kwanga advised political parties to send the list of their agents who would monitor the elections early as late registration would not be allowed by INEC.

Meanwhile, the state Director, State Security Services, SSS, Adekunle Ajanaku, said the agency recently arrested some politically sponsored thugs who cause mayhem at rallies.

Mr. Ajanaku said some thugs that intended disrupting the flag off of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rally in Mangu and the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate’s visit to Jos on Saturday were apprehended by SSS officials.

Mr. Ajanaku said the suspects arrested have disclosed their sponsors. He, however, refused to “expose” the sponsors and the thugs but warned politicians in the state to desist from such acts.

He lamented that political parties were not abiding by security tips given them by the SSS.
The SSS boss pledged to deal decisively with anyone who is found wanting, before, during and after the elections, as his men have been placed on a red alert.

The state Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki, who was chairman of the security meeting, said the police and other security agencies were battle ready to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

The representative of the National Immigration Service, NIS, Ruth Dashe, said the agency has concluded plans to stop non Nigerians from participating in the electoral process during the 2015 elections.

The officials of political parties who spoke at the event expressed satisfaction with the process, and described the meeting as “timely.”

The security heads who spoke also appealed to political parties with candidates in the elections not to allow thugs disrupt the forthcoming elections as no one would be spared, no matter highly place.

The event was attended by the Director SSS, GOC 3Amord Division, Commander Special Taskforce on Jos crisis (STF) representative of NSCDC, Heads of Prisons, Immigration Service, Candidates of political parties and Traditional rulers.

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