The Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to maintain peace during the forthcoming November 16, governorship election in Ondo State.
The national chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal yesterday while monitoring the 2024 Ondo State Mock Accreditation Exercise across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The INEC boss who said the mock accreditation exercise was to further test functionality of their system, noted that if the parties and their supporters maintain peace it would enable the commission to conduct a free and fair election.
According to him, “We will ensure that all the polling units open on time so that voters will not come and wait for INEC officials and materials. We have tested the integrity of the machine, it is not the matter of deployment early but also accredited early.
“We are doing our best as the electoral commission and others should also do their best, particularly political parties and the candidate. I want to appeal to political parties, candidates and their supporters to ensure that they maintain the peace that will enable us to deploy in good time, concluding the processes in good time.
“And also to announce the candidate people of Ondo State are choosing as their governor on Saturday,” the INEC chairman said.
Speaking on the accreditation exercise, Isiaka Taiwo, who was accredited at the Ijapo High School, Akure in ward 4, unit 41, applauded the INEC for the conduct.
“There is no delay in the exercise, and I will come along with my family to cast our vote for the candidate of our choices,” he said.
Also, Adebimpe Bankole, who was accredited at Alagbaka Primary School, Akure in ward 5, unit 18 said that INEC deserved 80 percent credit for the mock exercise.
Bankole said; “I am satisfied with the process because I don’t waste any time before I can do my accreditation. I would have given them 100 per cent but I can’t. I would rather give them 80 per cent because they have done well. By God’s grace I will come out on Saturday, Nov. 16 for the election proper to cast my vote.”
The INEC chairman alongside other officials of the commission, visited the Idanre, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, both in Ondo Central and Ondo South Senatorial Districts of Ondo State.
