The Independent National Electoral Commission has ordered hotels in Makurdi shut for security reasons.
The affected hotels are those sharing the same vicinity with the commission’s state head office in Makurdi.
INEC’s state Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ochai Louis, who confirmed the closure of the hotels, explained that the move was to forestall any break down of law and order.
He said criminal elements could hide in the hotels and launch attacks on the office from there under the guise of lodging as guests.
Louis said, “We called the owners of the hotels to a meeting this morning. They were adequately briefed on the security implications.
“So, all the hotels will be evacuated, except for INEC members of staff.”
The commission tightened security around the office on Friday as soldiers arrived to oversee security.
One armoured tank was stationed right inside the premises of the head office with soldiers milling around the war machine.
Before the soldiers arrived, a combined team of riot policemen and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps was already guarding the building.
INEC has no constitutional rights to shut any hotel for security reasons cos it is not a security agency. The same INEC that kicked against the use of soldiers claiming that it is unconstitutional have fallen back on the same soldiers and other security agencies to secure and protect them during the election.Jega is a confused man and a disappointment so far.
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