The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Monday said it is ready for this Saturday’s governorship polls in Edo State, disclosing that it has delivered all non-sensitive materials for the election.
INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu who made this disclosure at a stakeholders meeting in Benin also said the Commission has made arrangements for the movement of personnel and materials to all polling units on election day.
Yakubu maintained that the Commission has taken every step and made every arrangement for the election holding this weekend, saying voter education and sensitisation is ongoing.
He said: “The Commission has dutifully carried out 12 out of 14 scheduled tasks contained in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election. We held many meetings with political parties and their candidates.
“We had several engagements with the security agencies at national and State levels. We consulted with stakeholders. We sought for, and received, the blessings of Royal Fathers and religious leaders. We have recruited, trained and carefully screened all categories of ad hoc staff to be deployed to the field.
“Our ultimate objective is to ensure that the choice of who becomes the next Governor of Edo State is entirely in the hands of the voters”.
The INEC Chairman reassured that the peoples’ votes will count and only the choice made by the people of Edo State will determine the outcome of the election.
Yakubu further assured that the Commission would not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate.
He stated that: “In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, polling units will now open at 8.30am (instead of 8.00am) and close at 2.30pm (instead of 2.00pm).
“This has become necessary in order to accommodate the additional measures to protect public health necessitated by the global health emergency. However, all eligible voters who are on the queue by 2.30pm will be allowed to vote in line with the Commission’s regulations.
“Other procedures for the election are clearly outlined in the Voters’ Code of Conduct (VCC) which has since been disseminated. Similarly, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge polling agents, election observers and the media to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Commission’s policy, copies of which have been widely circulated and more will be shared at this meeting.
“As in previous elections, the Commission is deploying magnifying glasses and braille ballot guides to assist Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to vote unaided”.
The Nation’s Chief Electoral Officer emphasized that the use of Smart Card Readers for voter verification and authentication is a mandatory requirement and where it is deliberately avoided to undermine the integrity of the electoral process, the result for the affected polling unit will be declared void in line with the Commission’s regulations and guidelines.
Yakubu said INEC is determined that no one will benefit from impunity or rewarded for bad behaviour such as vote-buying, ballot box snatching and stuffing, multiple voting, hijacking and diversion of election materials, disruption of collation, falsification of results, attack on INEC officials or compelling them to declare unofficial results.
He also disclosed that the national headquarters of INEC will monitor the election throughout Edo State via its Zoom Situation Room which will receive live reports from the field.
“By doing so, the Commission will receive first-hand information as the election is going on. At the same time, citizens can contact us on our various platforms such as the toll-free INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC) telephone line in addition to our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts”, the INEC Chairman added.
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