…..As Political Parties, Candidates sign Accord on Friday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened that it will sanction erring Electoral officers in the forthcoming November 16, 2024 Ondo State governorship election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave the warning in Akure on Thursday during a stakeholders meeting with Candidates, traditional rulers and others.
Yakuba noted that the commission was well prepared for the election and had put in place necessary measures to safeguard the integrity of the election.
He said, INEC had also conducted several meetings with necessary stakeholders both at the national, State and local government levels to ensure smooth election.
He disclosed that the electoral body had accredited over 100 media organisations, agents representing the candidates of each political parties at all the polling and collation centers across the State urging the media to avoid reports that could cause chaos.
“The 2024 Ondo State Governorship election is not just a national election, it is also of global interest. The Commission has accredited 111 domestic and international organisations deploying 3,554 observers for the election. We have also accredited over 100 radio, television, newspaper and online media organisations deploying about 700 personnel, including 129 female journalists, the largest number for any off-cycle Governorship elections in Nigeria.
“We have also accredited thousands of agents representing candidates and political parties for all the polling and collation locations across the State. I want to assure you that the accreditation cards for all categories of stakeholders are ready. Our State office here in Akure will soon commence the distribution of accreditation tags, including election duty vehicle stickers.
“In our various engagements 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, our own officials (both regular and ad hoc staff), service providers such as transporters and, above all, the citizens that will vote during the election. I am glad that the relevant agencies have given us the necessary assurances of security during the election, including unimpeded access to voting and collation locations for observers and the media. We will hear more from the representative of the Inspector-General of Police shortly.
“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. Only yesterday, we conducted mock accreditation in 12 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.
“So, let me summarise what we have done so far to ensure the success of the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election holding next week. We engaged several times with stakeholders at the national level and here in Ondo State. We have made every information about the election available to Nigerians.
“We have published the list of candidates, the number registered voters and the number of PVCs collected by polling units. We have made available the locations of voting and collation centres across the State.
“We have accredited observers and media organisations for the election. We have also accredited polling and collation agents and made the details public. On Tuesday this week, we visited many of our Local Government offices to assess their readiness for the election. We have test-run our election technology in preparation for the Election Day.
“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.
“We will invite political parties and other stakeholders for the usual inspection of the materials at the Central Bank here in Akure and throughout the movement of sensitive materials to the Local Governments and the Ward centres. We have warned our staff that there will be consequences for dereliction of duty in any way or form. Tomorrow afternoon, I am going to address the staff, including the Electoral Officers from the 18 Local Government Areas.
“As you are aware, election is a multi-stakeholder activity. INEC has a role to play and we have done so always in consultation with stakeholders. However, our role has to be complemented by all stakeholders. I urge Political parties to continue to restrain your supporters from any disruptive behaviour.
“We have produced accreditation tags for all your agents bearing their names, photographs and location of deployment. We have also added a QR code to the tags that can be read even from mobile phone applications. The practice of issuing party tags without name, photograph or location of posting to party agents must stop.
“That is how in some polling and collation locations, we have impersonators where two or more people claim to be agents of one Political Party, sometimes resulting in unnecessary disagreement among themselves or with agents of other parties leading to disruption of processes.
“I urge Political Parties to follow the example of other accredited observers and the media by using the tags issued by the Commission and displaying the same at all voting and collation locations.
“Before I conclude, I would like to remind you that tomorrow, Friday 8th November 2024, the Peace Accord involving parties and candidates will be signed at 10.00am at this venue. Our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR, will preside over the occasion in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Peace Committee. I invite you to honour the Peace Committee by your presence here tomorrow and, most importantly, abide by the terms of the Accord for a peaceful election,” Yakuba said.
In an opening remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola reiterated INEC commitment to ensuring free, fair, transparent credible and inclusive election.
The Inspector General of Police , Dr Kayode Egbetokun, represented by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 17 headquarters, Mr Asabi Oladimeji promised that no stone would be left unturned to provide security for conducive atmosphere for the election.
In his speech, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa urged that It was the duty of everyone to maintain the peace.
Also in attendance were candidates of each political parties, ZLP Mr Abbas Mimiko, SDP Mr Bamidele Akingboye, PRP Mr Babatunde Alli, traditional rulers including Deji of Akure , Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, religious leaders, heads of security agencies, among others, while the PDP candidate Agboola Ajayi was represented by the party’s Director General of Campaign Council.
