The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged that it will ensure the timely arrival of election materials and officials for the November 16 off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State, aiming to avoid the delays that have plagued previous elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave this assurance during a visit to local government areas in the state on Wednesday, where a mock accreditation exercise took place.
The visit, which included the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, and other INEC officials, was part of preparations for the upcoming election.
Yakubu acknowledged that previous elections in Nigeria had been marred by the late arrival of election materials and officials to polling units, which often resulted in delays in the commencement of voting.
However, he assured voters that the situation would be different in Ondo, with the commission taking steps to ensure that polling stations open on time.
“We have made all necessary logistical arrangements to ensure that election materials and personnel arrive early at the polling units. Our goal is to avoid any delays and ensure that voting begins promptly,” Yakubu said.
He also highlighted the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation and result transmission.
“The mock accreditation has been successful, with no failures in the system. We’ve tested the machines extensively, and many voters have been successfully accredited using facial recognition technology rather than fingerprints,” Yakubu explained.
The INEC chairman expressed confidence that the preparations made, including the extensive training of electoral officials and the mock accreditation exercise, would ensure a smooth election process.
He reassured voters that INEC was committed to making the Ondo governorship election credible, transparent, and free from the issues that had previously hindered the electoral process.
Yakubu also called on political parties, candidates, and their supporters to maintain peace throughout the election period, urging them to refrain from violence and ensure a conducive environment for the election to be held in a timely and orderly manner.
“We appeal to political parties and their supporters to ensure a peaceful atmosphere so that we can complete the election process smoothly and announce the will of the people of Ondo State,” he said.
During his visit, Yakubu toured several local government areas, including Akure South, Idanre, Ile-Oluji-Okeigbo, Ondo East, and Akure North, where the mock accreditation was conducted.
He reiterated that INEC was fully prepared for the election, with all necessary resources in place to guarantee its success.
