The disrupted Ekiti State bye-election remains suspended, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said on Thursday.
He said the commission would continue to engage with political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders; stressing that work to strengtgen prosecution of electoral offenders is critical.
He said: “We would continue to work to strengthen prosecution and this is critical for us and the nation.
“As long as violators of our laws are not penalised, this brigandage is likely to continue.
“And given what happened recently in Akwa Ibom State, no one is in doubt about the determination of the commission to ensure that those who violate our laws are prosecuted.
“We would continue to protect the staff we deployed to the field, we will continue to protect the sanctity of the process and above all the protection of voters.
“The first victims of violence in Ekiti State were actually the voters. This is why we suspended the election indefinitely and I mean indefinitely.
“If people are going to kill voters on election day or even election officials, then the election cannot proceed,” Yakubu said.
