Off-Cycle Election: INEC Chairman Calls On Electoral Officers To Be Above Board

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has called on officials of the commission to demonstrate the highest level of patriotism and professionalism.

This call was made less than 24 hours to the off cycle governorship election in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.

INEC Chairman said. “As I said repeatedly, not least during my recent readiness assessment visits to the three States, INEC is not a political party and we have no candidate in the election.

“Our responsibility is to safeguard the process and ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates. The choice of who becomes the Governor of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States is entirely in the hands of voters,” he said

Election Materials

Professor Mahmood said the commission delivered all sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections.

“The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) have been configured for deployment to Polling Units as the only means of voter verification and fingerprint/facial biometric authentication of voters. Polling Unit results will be uploaded to the INC Result Viewing (IRe) portal,” he said

Mahmood said that election duty officials have been trained.

“Arrangements have been made for land and maritime transportation to enable us commence voting on schedule. In spite of the extremely difficult terrain and physical infrastructure in some locations, we are determined to ensure that our officials are there waiting for voters rather than the voters waiting for our arrival,” he said.

Deployment of RECs

To enhance efficience in the conduct of the elections in the 3 states, INEC has adopted some innovations in terms of man power deployment.

“The Commission is deploying two (2) National Commissioners, nine (9) Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and Administrative Secretaries (ASs) as well as additional staff from different States to each of the three States to support the process. They will be deployed across the senatorial zones in the States,” Professor Mahmood explained.

INECs Commitment 

The Commission’s Chairman stressed that election was a multi-stakeholder responsibility, as with every election, the commission has learnt hard lessons from recent elections.

He says, “We will continue to ensure free, fair and credible and inclusive elections but INEC cannot do it alone. We have received assurances from the security agencies that the environment will be secure for electoral activities and all participants: voters, electoral officials, accredited observers, the media and polling/collation agents. Political parties and candidates have signed the peace accord under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC). Let us maintain the peace and play our roles conscientiously. By doing so, we shall continue to consolidate our democracy”.

He said in order to safeguard the integrity of the electio, INEC carried out numerous pre election activies with all stakeholders, while the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun redeployed some Commissions of police and has banned all vehicular movements in the three states except for persons on essential duties.

While the Governor Hope Ozodimma of Imo and Duoye Diri of Bayelsa States are seeking re-election, Governor Yayah Bello of Kogi State is hoping to install a new governor from his parry the APC.

About 5,169,692 Nigerians who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs are expected to vote in the  off-cycle Governorship elections.

This is the first time in Nigeria’s history that the elections are holding on the same day and across three geo-political zones, North Central (Kogi), South East (Imo) and South South (Bayelsa).

The polls will open by 8am on Saturday November 11, 2023 and close by 2pm.local time and  results are expected days after the vote.

Confidence Okwuchi