Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that political parties and their candidates would sign the peace accord on November 8.
This initiative, according to INEC, would be coordinated by the National Peace Committee and the commission, aimed at securing a peaceful election process.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced on Thursday in Abuja that the commission had identified potential flashpoints in Ondo and alerted security agencies for effective conflict mapping.
Speaking during the fourth quarterly meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Yakubu noted that INEC would conduct a final readiness assessment next week, involving stakeholders, officials, security agencies, and transport providers.
Yakubu also shared that the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) collection period concluded recently, with 64,273 out of 89,777 PVCs distributed—a collection rate of 71.6%.
He hailed the CSOs for helping to mobilise voters for card collection and indicated that INEC would publish cumulative PVC collection figures by polling unit on its website.
The INEC Chairman expressed satisfaction with improvements to the voter accreditation process and result upload procedures, as well as enhancements in media and observer accreditations.
He further said logistical adjustments, especially for personnel and material movement to both land and riverine locations, aim to facilitate the prompt start and smooth management of voting and results on election day.
The chairman further said, “Similarly, some of the accredited observers are already in Ondo state for the governorship election and have interfaced with our officials in the state.
“The collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), mainly from the recent voter registration, ended two days ago. A total 64,273 PVCs were collected by voters out of the 89,777 cards delivered to the State. This represents an impressive collection rate of 71.6%.
“I want to appreciate the CSOs that helped to mobilise registered voters to collect their cards. In the next few days, the commission will upload to our 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.
“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.
“Already, mock accreditation of voters and result upload to the IReV has been scheduled for Wednesday 6th November 2024 in 12 polling units across six Local Government Areas in the three Senatorial districts of the state. Detailed locations of the centres has been uploaded to our website. Hardcopies are enclosed in your folders for this meeting.
“As the Ondo state governorship approaches, I wish to remind CSOs that are yet to submit reports for the Edo governorship election to do so in earnest.
“I also urge you to intensify your advocacy for peaceful elections, especially now that campaign by political parties and candidates is in full swing in the state.
“Happily, there has been no major incident of election-related violence known to the commission in Ondo state so far. However, we are aware of flash points in some local government areas to which we have already drawn the attention of the security agencies.
At the same time, 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.
“Even as we prepare for the Ondo state governorship election, the commission is not unmindful of its other electoral obligations. As you are aware, the timetable and schedule of activities for the Anambra state governorship election was released recently.
“As required by law, the commission is under obligation to publish the timetable not later than 360 days before the date fixed for the election. The idea is to provide ample time to those involved in elections as political parties, candidates, observers, the media and security agencies to prepare.
“A copy of the timetable is already available on our website. Again, hardcopies have been included in your folders for this meeting”.