By our correspondent, in Abuja
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has appealed to the National Security Adviser, NSA, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and heads of other security agencies in the country to help make this year’s governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States smooth and hitch-free.
The Edo State governorship election is billed to hold on Saturday, September 21, this year, while that of Ondo State is scheduled for Saturday, November 16.
The INEC Chairman made the appeal in his remarks at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) held at the commission’s headquarters on Friday in Abuja.
Prof Yakubu harped on the need to replicate the successful conduct of the last Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States four years ago.4
He pointed out that in working together, it is pertinent to ensure that the 2024 Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States are an improvement on the success story of 2020.
The INEC Chairman maintained that it is important to start security preparations very early.
Yakubu specifically said that the number of personnel and other assets to be deployed to strategic locations should be determined and mobilised early enough.
He contended that 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.
In the words of the INEC Chairman, “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.
“In the next few months, there will be further engagements with the security agencies and other members of ICCES at both national and State levels.
“We look forward to your plans to secure the environment without which INEC cannot successfully conduct elections”, he pleaded.
The INEC Chairman however extended the commission’s 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
Officers and soldiers killed in Okuama community in Delta State.
He called them “fallen heroes” and described their death as “colossal loss”.
The meeting observed a minute of silent prayers for the repose of their souls.
