Before the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has advised security agencies to build upon the success of the previous election in both states.
Yakubu made this statement during a meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Abuja on Friday.
The Edo governorship election is set for September 21, 2024, and the Ondo governorship election will occur on November 16, 2024.
With only two days left before the Edo election deadline, only 12 parties have submitted their candidates' details to the INEC portal.
Seventeen out of 19 parties have shown interest in participating in the Ondo governorship election.
The INEC chairman observed that in the last elections in both states, security agencies prepared early, leading to smooth elections.
He mentioned, “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 mentioned that currently, 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.
Yakubu also stated that the commission is reorganizing to complete the unresolved state constituencies elections interrupted by troublemakers in Enugu and Kano states.
“You may recall that two months ago, precisely on 23rd January 2024, we met to review the security arrangement for the bye-elections and court-ordered re-run elections in 48 Federal and State Constituencies across the country.
“Except for two state constituencies in Enugu and Kano states, the elections have been concluded and winners declared. We are remobilising to conclude the outstanding elections which were disrupted by hoodlums,” he said.
