Ondo Polls: INEC Assures Stakeholders of Smooth Conduct Of Election

Nigeria’s electoral body, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured stakeholders that it will ensure a smooth and credible voting process during the November 16, governorship election in Ondo State.

The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu gave this assurance during a stakeholders’ meeting on the Ondo State governorship election held in Akure, Ondo state capital.

Yakubu solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure a credible election.

He said the commission was well prepared for the election and had put in place necessary measures to safeguard the integrity of the election.

According to Professor Yakubu, INEC has also conducted several meetings with necessary stakeholders both at the national, State and local government levels to ensure smooth election.

He disclosed that about 2,053,061 registered voters from the 18 local government areas of the state would participate in the exercise.

He said 111 domestic and international organisations would deploy three thousand, 3,554 observers across the state to monitor the election.

“We have also accredited over hundred radio, television, newspaper and online media organisations deploying about seven hundred personnel, including one hundred and twenty-nine female journalists, the largest number for any off-cycle Governorship elections in Nigeria,” he said.

To further ease the voting process, Yakubu highlighted INEC’s plans for land and maritime transport for personnel and materials, with delivery of sensitive election materials expected by Tuesday.

He acknowledged the synergy with the security and law enforcement agencies.

“We underscored the importance of providing security during the election to guarantee personal safety and protection of observers, the media, and our own officials and, above all, the citizens that will vote during the election.

“We are deploying enough technical support staff to address any challenges that may occur. We have made arrangements for land and maritime transportation of personnel and materials. We have arranged for the delivery of sensitive materials for the election to arrive as early as Tuesday next week.

“Let me reassure stakeholders that INEC is ready for the election. We are deploying the BVAS machines for voter accreditation at polling units and for the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

“On Wednesday, we conducted mock accreditation in twelve polling units across six Local Government Areas in the three Senatorial Districts of the state. The purpose was to test-run our deployment of technology to safeguard the credibility of the election.

“I am glad to report that the mock was successful and the result can be viewed on the IReV portal. But let me also quickly add that the machines used for the mock accreditation and the training of officials will not be used on Election Day.

“We have sufficient machines for the election which have been configured for voter accreditation and the upload of result distinct from those used for mock accreditation and training,” he explained.

Consequence for Dereliction.

Yakubu warned staff of the electoral body that against manipulation during the election, saying there would be consequences for dereliction of duty in any way or form and urged political parties to continue to restrain their supporters from any disruptive behaviour.

Peace Accord

Yakubu disclosed that a peace accord involving all political parties participating in the election would be signed on Friday.

“Our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, will preside over the occasion in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Peace Committee,” he stated

Ondo state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola called on stakeholders to value their collective roles in delivering an election that truly reflects the people’s will.

Also, speaking during the stakeholders meeting, the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, said that ” the Nigeria Police, apart from additional manpower from sister agencies, is going to deploy a total of twenty two thousand, two hundred and thirty-nine officers for the exercise.

Egbetokun appealed to candidates and their supporters to act in accordance with democratic standards, reminding them of the importance of peaceful conduct over any “do-or-die” approach.

Confidence Okwuchi