Edo/Ondo Guber: INEC charges security agencies on improved 2020 success story

Edo/Ondo Guber: INEC charges security agencies on improved 2020 success story

Joel Oladele

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on security agencies to beef up security apparatus ahead of the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Edo and Ondo State.

The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the appeal on Friday at a meeting with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), in Abuja.

Prof. Yakubu while commending the security agencies for the role played towards making the governorship elections in the two states successful in 2020, charged them on the need to be more proactive in order to achieve a better result this time around.

He noted that without adequate prior preparation, it will be difficult to achieve such.

“It is important to start security preparations very early. In particular, the number of personnel and other assets to be deployed to strategic locations should be determined and mobilised early enough.

“It was this proactive approach that led to the successful conduct of the last Governorship election in Edo State on 19th September 2020 and in Ondo State on 10th October 2020. There were no security incidents, materials were delivered promptly, logistics deployed smoothly, Polling Units opened on time, voters attended to efficiently and results collated and announced transparently.

“Let us replicate the successful conduct of the last Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. In fact, working together, we should ensure that the 2024 Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States are an improvement on the success story of 2020,” Yakubu appealed.

He added that there will be further engagements between INEC, security agencies and other members of ICCES at both national and State levels in the next few months. 

“We look forward to your plans to secure the environment without which INEC cannot successfully conduct elections,” added.

Reeling out the statistical details of the two States, Yakubu stated that there are 2,501,081 registered voters in Edo while Ondo State has 1,991,344 registered voters.

“Both Edo and Ondo States have 18 Local Government Areas each. At the moment, Edo has 2,501,081 registered voters, 192 Registration Areas/Wards and 4,519 Polling Units while Ondo State has 1,991,344 registered voters, 203 Registration Areas/Wards and 3,933 Polling Units. 

“However, the terrain differs in the two States. While there are a few riverine locations in Edo State, two Local Government Areas in Ondo State (Ese Odo and Ilaje) are predominantly riverine.

“For Edo State, 18 Political Parties conducted their primaries monitored by the Commission. They have since commenced the uploading of the list and personal particulars of their candidates to our dedicated web portal. 

“The deadline is 6pm on Sunday 24th March 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down. So far, 12 Political Parties have uploaded the list of their candidates to the portal.

“For Ondo State, Political Parties will commence their primaries in the next two weeks. At the moment, 17 out of 19 Parties have indicated interest in participating in the election,” he revealed. 

Reacting to the recent gruesome killings of military personnel on a peace mission to Okuoma, Delta State, the INEC Boss on behalf of the Commission extended his condolences to members of ICCES and the families of the fallen heroes.

While condemning the action in its entirety, Yakubu expressed confidence that the ongoing investigation will lead to the speedy arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.

 “The recent gruesome killing of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army on a peace mission in Delta State is condemnable. We are confident that the ongoing investigation will lead to the speedy arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the heinous crime. 

“On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I extend our condolence to the Army and the armed forces in particular as well as other security, intelligence, law enforcement agencies, all other members of ICCES and families of the fallen heroes for the colossal loss,” he noted.