We will not allow masked security men during elections - Jega

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Prof Attahiru Jega has condemned the use of hooded security men during elections and said the body would not allow it

Jega

 

in 2015 elections.

Jega, who spoke at a session with local and international Civil Society Organizations in Abuja described the trend as worrisome as he accused the security men deployed in Osun State of being “overzealous”.

Meanwhile, Department of State Security (DSS) spokesperson Marylyn Ogar admitted that some of the DSS men deployed for the election wore hoods. Many other hooded troops in military fatigue, whose identities were unknown, were also seen in action before and during the election.

The INEC Chairman however made it clear that Any security personnel deployed for the election must be someone identifiable.

He said “In recent times, we have witnessed an increased presence of hooded security operatives during elections. This is an emerging trend which is highly worrisome and which needs to be addressed in good time. Security agents who are deployed on election duties should not be masked, the doctrine of transparency requires that they should be identifiable.

“We will not allow such persons during the 2015 elections. Any security personnel deployed for the election must be someone identifiable such that if anything happens we will be able to know who to hold responsible”, Jega added.