Ondo 2024: INEC assures improvement in logistics, others
As the Ondo State Governorship election slated for 16th November, 2024 is gathering momentum, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured improvements in the areas of logistics for the movement of personnel and materials to both land and riverine locations.
This, the Commission said, will enable the prompt commencement of polls as well as the management of the processes on election day from voting to declaration of result.
INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu gave this assurance during the Commission’s fourth quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja on Thursday.
While disclosing that the Commission has improved on voter accreditation process and the uploading of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, Prof Yakubu however said that it has learnt lessons from the previous elections.
“As usual, we have learnt lessons from previous elections. We have improved on the voter accreditation process and the upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
“There have been similar improvements in observer and media accreditation. Our voter education efforts are ongoing. The capacity of election duty staff has improved with hands-on training for especially Polling Unit officials.
“As we approach the Ondo State governorship election, there will be further improvements, especially in the areas of logistics for the movement of personnel and materials to both land and riverine locations to enable the prompt commencement of polls as well as the management of the processes on Election Day from voting to declaration of result.
He charged the CSOs to comply with the Commission’s rules of engagement for accredited election observers, stressing that the Commission reserved the right to withdraw the accreditation of any individual observer or group that violates Code of Conduct for election observation.
“I welcome you all to our fourth and last regular quarterly consultative meeting for this year. I want to appreciate Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for always responding to our invitations for consultative meetings, sometimes at short notice.
“You will also appreciate that we have similarly responded to your invitations for engagement with you, sometimes at short notice, the most recent being the meeting with the Civil Society Situation Room on the Ondo State Governorship election held here in Abuja yesterday involving the participation of our Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the State.
“Similarly, some of the accredited observers are already in Ondo State for the Governorship election and have interfaced with our officials in the State. We will continue with this partnership, including capacity-building on various aspects of the electoral process jointly with some of your organisations.
“We will continue to welcome your comments and suggestions, particularly where they are specific and backed by verifiable and actionable evidence”.
On the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), ahead of the election, Prof. Yakubu thanked CSOs for helping to mobilised registered voters to collect their cards.
The chairman said in the next few days, the Commission will upload to its website the cumulative figure of all PVCs collected in each of the 3,933 Polling Units across the State for the purpose of result management as provided by law and for public information.
Prof. Yakubu reminded CSOs that are yet to submit reports for the Edo Governorship election to do so in earnest, while urging them to intensify advocacy for peaceful elections, especially now that campaign by political parties and candidates is in full swing in the State.
“I wish to remind you of your obligations as observers by complying with the Commission’s rules of engagement for accredited election observers. I wish to reiterate that the Commission reserves the right to withdraw the accreditation of any individual observer or group that violates Code of Conduct for election observation.
“A concise summary of the Code is contained in the 22-page document entitled “Briefing for Observers” available on our website www.inecnigeria.org”, he added.
