The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has given assurances that Corps members will not be sent on election duty to any unsafe areas in country. This decision was revealed to the general public by NYSC Director of Press and Publicity Relations, Adenike Adeyemi, ahead of the Governorship, State Houses of Assembly and FCT Area Council elections on Saturday 9th March. According to her: “Corps members are not allowed to work or live in such areas and this is understood by INEC. Once a place is adjudged and declared as having security challenges, Corps members are not to serve there either for elections or primary assignments.” She also stated that no Corps member died during the 23rd February elections, to set the record straight, in the face of prevalent news on electoral violence affecting ad hoc staff.
On the issue of safety of election personnel, INEC has acknowledged that some of its staff on election duties faced challenges to their personal safety in the course of the Presidential and National Assembly elections. In a press statement, INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu confirmed that: “Officials during the course of carrying out their duties, experienced threats, harassment, intimidation, assault, abduction and even rape.” He called on the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), to submit comprehensive reports of all such incidents in their States, for appropriate action. Several Returning Officers (ROs) have also spoken extensively to the press of threats to their lives during the collation process.