 Welcome back. It's still the breakfast and plus TV Africa and we're set for a first major Conversation the independent National Electric Commission Niger's electoral empire has expressed a divergent view with Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari on the impact of attacks on the electoral body's offices and facilities in different parts of the country and Its effect on the Commission as far as the elections coming up in the country Concerned now while the president said the electoral body had no excuse not to conduct a credible free-and-fair Election despite the attacks as the funds it requested had been made available to it Inaq noted that its funds were overstretched by the attacks as it would have to rebuild and Replace the destroyed facilities. Now Buhari on Friday assured the United States of America Has been there for the U.S. Africa summit that the attacks on the offices would not stop the conduct of next year's general Elections the president spoke in Washington DC during a conversation Co-hosted by the United States Institute for Peace at the International Republican Institute the National Endowment for Democracy and The International Foundation for electoral systems. However, Inaq on its part has called on the federal government to intensify efforts at Protecting its facilities and property nationwide to ensure hitch-free polls commission had also lamented That from 2019 till date It had recorded a total of 50 attacks in 15 states of the Federation Describing the attacks as worrisome and unfortunately the Commission said it will go the whole hog However to deliver credible polls next year now the president on one hand is saying Inaq is ready for the elections Governors done everything it needs to do but Inaq is saying see we still have some challenges now Well, the attacks on our facilities, you know I'm part of forthcoming elections of the government need to do more commit more funds to the Commission ahead of the elections and not joining us this morning to do justice to this topic We have a guest already standing by Larry Barry or Larry Barry Sampson Hindu is director security at Inaq headquarters in Abu Jha he will look at the security aspect of this and others as we go on miss Hindu. Thank you very much for your time Thank you for having me Right. We met also our professor. He's a saga a faggot and once he joins us it will put him on on line But a miss Hindu, let's start with this and what are your thoughts as Inaq now on these increasing attacks Who are these attackers and what are their aim? The last we had was an email state where the state Offices of Inaq were set was set on fire. So who are these attackers and what are they after? Thank you very much and good morning These attackers are not from Cameroon Neither are they from Guinea-Bissau They are Nigerians They live with us They live in our community Nigerians know them and until Nigerians take security as everybody's business Today is Inaq who knows whose agency it will be tomorrow. And so Nigerians should give credible information to the security agencies So that at least things can be nipped in the boat and like Inaq said We have gotten 50 attacks since then 1920 date the last one in Imaq Thank God some people were caught and we believe that the security agencies are going to use Every power and their disposal and every information they have to try these people down There are people that are sponsoring them These things are not just because of election. I think there is more to it Nigerians should rise up. They should rise up and not just condemning it But ensuring that it is stopped. The reason is that Forms which will have been used for other critical social infrastructures Will not be channelled back because take it or leave it election must go Inaq is prepared and has done everything it can to ensure That deliverables are delivered sensitive or not sensitive materials are delivered Inaq is ready. They are prepared and they are waiting for the whistle to be blown to take off the test and the Time table at the house and as I speak Inaq is in the process of implementing all the decisions and all the processes that they have taken And so we need Nigerians to support us Okay, but let's also look at the back-and-forth with Inaq and also the presidency or the president Well, the president is saying that yes, despite the attacks on you know, Inaq offices across the country That should not deter the Commission the Empire from conducting a free credible elections in 2023 But on the other hand, Inaq is saying that the funds have been overstretched because of this attacks And so there's need for them to rebuild and replace all of this Facilities or I mean all that has been destroyed What do you make of the back-and-forth? Can you hear us, please? All right. I think the best thing to do in this circumstance is to look at what the Inaq chairman said difficult It will be difficult for the Commission To replace all the things that have been destroyed. That's what the chairman said We are ready. We are prepared. If the attacks are stopped today Inaq is good to go But what the chairman said is the attacks Should be stopped because these things most of the things we need in the sensitive materials are destroyed It's going to give us stress to get it back. And not things you can just go to open market and procure There is a procurement process and if these things are destroyed if it is it will disrupt the timeline That we have given ourselves to conduct elections Inaq is not saying the funds are not released. But what the chairman is saying is if the attacks continue The funds will not be released We will be overstretched Because we have to get new buildings. We have to build it and in case where we cannot do it because the exigence The time to hire new buildings and this takes For all. All right We seem to be having a network challenge with you Mr. Endu if you can hear me, please But why are we why are we trying to get him back? We would at this point say welcome and good morning to Professor Sunny Fagi, Professor Camilo Sunny Fagi is a renowned political scientist and Professor with Bayero University canon Professor good morning to you. Thank you very much for your time. Yeah, Professor Fagi. Please. Can you hear me? Loud and clear. Thank you very much for your time Professor Fagi We have a situation where the independent national electric commission is hinting That they may be cash strapped if the Incessant attacks on these facilities around the country continue President says that the government has done the needful to ensure that they are ready And he believes the president believes that Inaq is ready for the election in his presentation to the international community Should we be reading much into this as a clash of views between Inaq and the president because I mean the president has Been away while some of these attacks have been going on or should we you know calm down a bit on the narrative of a clash of views between the president and and Inaq. I Think it's both. On one hand, we should read meaning in each and on the other hand We should calm down So I would rather we pass up or calm down and be optimistic that the elections will hold Be it as it may Because if we are to start Giving in now, I think that will be a burden for one thing It will encourage the perpetrators of this act to continue secondly It will dampen the spirits of many Nigerians and that There is insecurity there for most of them will not be willing to Participate so I think that is the reason why we should calm down. On the other hand, we have to read meanings to eat Not that to me there are two contradictory statements but there are issues that The both sides have in terms of the finances it is actually true that What the president said that Inaq Receive all that it asked for I think that is Something positive, but on the other hand these challenges are unforeseen They are something that have not been planned for even if in the any budgets there are contingencies I think the contingencies might not be able to take care of This mountain challenges that is gradually creeping home so I think the next thing is we take what Inaq said seriously and Then enhance the security of Inaq offices and facilities and the security of the country as a whole so I think we can marry the And still go ahead and get Elections done so but in a case where I Mean the funds are not enough. I mean, we know that there's been a budget It's been released. Inaq is saying hey, we have the funds and what have you bought, you know with the Recent incident that we're having the attacks on the facilities and the officers across It would definitely mean that there's need for us to have, you know replacement and The next question would be in case, you know, we're not able to meet all of that need. What's the implication? What does that mean and do we also have enough time does Inaq have enough time? You know to replace all that has been taken. What's the implication for the elections in 2023? What it is like the implications that one It is going to disenfranchise a fighter number of people in the affected areas Secondly, I think it will have psychological effects on Voters and Inaq and the country at large So I don't think these things pull my the whole election unless it goes out of fun the areas that affected Legally, I think even though they are disenfranchised and so on I don't think the number will be Enough in such a way that it will fall for the postponement of the elections Because that will be the most dangerous thing for us to do if we say we are going to postpone the Elections even if the challenges are that because you know by our constitution By 29th of May there has to be a new government and The Electoral Act actually states how long it will take about 150 days before the new government you must have election. So I think Probably we are not talking if this thing continue maybe the election will have to Must continue and then the affected areas Then they find within the laws what Is to be done if for example the affected areas vote is such that it will Make a difference in terms of the winner and loser many it is a significant percentage Then perhaps they will organize Something in the area within the unbeat of the law, but what I'm saying basically These are serious implications and the only way out of it is to base it squarely like if it were offices, I should You know expedite action get You know temporary places like rent Places for each to have its own offices and then other materials. I think where you have Like the machineries and things that are affected If they can be replaced quickly before the time or if they cannot then in nearby areas where you have Let's say extra you can mobilize The gadgets they are even though it will raise some questions But I think that I get a feeling that I think might have a certain contingency plan to proceed that Similar situation so they are in a better position to see how they will Modulize the sources and personnel in such a way that the elections have not been crippled in the Areas All right, I'll come back to you. I'm a celebrity and do As prophesied and it may have you know contingency plans is also talked about the effect and impact on of these attacks On on the forthcoming elections and even on any cash crunch on the forthcoming elections. I'm Mr. Do you can hear me? Can you hear me? Mr. Endu? Yeah, yeah in terms of equipment and facilities What exactly is the effect of the impact are we seeing these attacks, you know, you know damage, you know Uncollected permanent voter cards to any doesn't have in machines like be vast machines And others that have been destroyed. Maybe You have bottled papers and all that what exactly has been affected by the over 50 attacks like Anika said in recent time Thank you very much as I speak with you this morning If the lecture is to go on To a person my annex ready with the sensitive materials None of the sensitive materials have been destroyed What has been touched? especially in a group and part of the state At the permanent voters card and like the chairman said Once we get these vain numbers of this permanent voters card. They will be printed in 340s nobody which is franchise by the fact that these voters cast Have been destroyed or stolen What the chairman and the commission is saying is If the attacks are not stopped and they continue it will hamper all the plans policies processes Commissioners put in place However, like a process I make has his own Contingency plans and that's why I am confident and I can speak That the election will go on as a German has said earlier on we are ready We are prepared but what the Germans say is that these Attacks needs to be stopped by the security agencies in collaboration with Nigeria's Because if it doesn't stop It might affect The smooth conduct of the elections don't forget That most of the materials that are destroyed we need to be replaced Most of the buildings we need to be replaced or in the alternative We will hire other buildings that may be suitable for the conduct of the elections All right before we go over to Prof. Um, Mr. Labor new For those, you know cars that have been damaged in the aforementioned states Will I like consider an extension of the collection period that's number one number two I'm some are trying to find out because speculation out there that I guess said, you know Even without your card you can vote for whatever you have. I don't know what you can you have but even without your card How true is that? It's not true That's the money they emanate from I like I like will not say that it is those who do not want a credible Election and say that I make as many very clear That's no more incident forms. You either come and if your biometrics do not show up At least your facial will show up the only reason why you cannot vote is if you forgot your face at home Why come into the pulling unit and we know there's no way you can forget your face and come to the pulling unit I make a lot of money very clear that We are not using any other thing other than give us all the information you need is there You will be accredited and you vote and what's important is over Results will be uploaded to the I make I read where you can just click in and see what is being done and see the results It is Oppression You cannot change results on the road the world Polition center that era is gone and There is no question of voting without your permanent voters card. It is a random you have the permanent voters card All you do not vote Nobody can use another person's permanent voters card to vote and I can set it and that it is a criminal offense To be in possession of the card that is not your home. So I make is ready Okay, what about the quickly please extension of time for collection of of permanent voter cards in affected states? Of course Once those cards Printed every Nigeria will be given the right to collect and ensure that they are not disenfranchised That's part of my next week for those areas where these cans and Distributed and reprinted of course, they will be given every opportunity like those whose cards are not destroyed That's a position Well, let's get back to Professor Sunny just as we close this conversation down Professor Sunny are you with us? Yes, all right away from I mean apart from the fact that we have the divergent view between the President or the government on the other hand with INEC in terms of you know funding the elections as As a result of you know the impact of security are there all the issues that you know We should look out for there are all the factors that might Likely, you know hamper or affect the free conduct of the elections in 2020 Yeah, I think the major one is the one we are discussing now That is the wave of You know attack on as any facilities Which I will be a source of concern Because so far I Think from any position, you know within the state of how many years they have been attacked their offices in various places About eight times So I think this should be the major source of concern in terms of improving the security Of the nation in general so that at least There wouldn't be coffee cuts of what is happening now and because I'm sure Many people who Will want to there are many people outside there who will want to copy what is going on So I think that will be a major source of concern and the other thing is As we give attention to all we pay attention to this issue of attack We should also pay attention to the way the politicians are conducting the campaigns because they too Made those threats because the way we see it. So so much, you know, the Violence around in terms of, you know, how the Compensers goes on because so many people in so many places It may not be a national news, but we have people being attacked in the place meaning using thoughts You know and all sort of speeches and that is That that is one of the another thing that we shall be concerned with All right. Thank you very much gentlemen for your time and it's been a thrill having you on the program tonight this morning rather Very interesting analysis from you. Professor Camilo sunny faggot is a political scientist And of course a professor with the Bairi University counter. Thank you very much for your time prof Thank you. And Lerabari Samsung do is a director security at the ionic headquarters in Abuja. Mr. Samsung do. Thank you very much for your time Right and we'll take a break When we come we come back we have more discussions ahead on the breakfast, please stay with us