Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu
Edo, Ondo poll:INEC chairman worries over insecurity
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is worried over growing insecurity of lives and property that may dog governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
INEC chairman spoke during a quarterly consultative meeting with media executives on Wednesday.
Yakubu said cited the recent security incident in Edo State, which resulted in the death of a police inspector.
He said the Commission is vigilant and plans to address these concerns in an upcoming meeting with security agencies.
According to him, “We are deeply concerned about the safety of everyone involved in the electoral process, including our officials, observers, service providers, and voters.
“We will meet with the security agencies on Friday under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to discuss these issues comprehensively.
“The Commission is committed to ensuring that media personnel have unimpeded access to voting and collation centres. We will collaborate with security agencies to facilitate smooth operations for journalists.”
Yakubu also wanted media organizations to support INEC, saying the portal for media accreditation is still open, with 24 media organizations already uploading details for 227 personnel.
The INEC boss urged all interested media outlets to complete their applications before the September 5, 2024, deadline to ensure the timely processing of accreditation tags.
“You are crucial in combating fake news, misinformation, and disinformation. Please adhere to the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage and INEC guidelines,” Yakubu said.
Regarding upcoming bye-elections, Yakubu noted that two additional vacancies have been declared since the Commission’s last meeting.
He said the Commission will soon announce dates for the elections, following the recent vacancies in the Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State and Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.
INEC had earlier announced that it will publish the final figures for new voters in Edo and Ondo states, including detailed distribution by gender, age, occupation, and disability, later this week.
This comes as preparations for the governorship elections in both states move into high gear.
The governorship election in Edo State is scheduled for September 21, 2024, while the Ondo State election is set for November 16, 2024.
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