Like Edo, Ondo Election Will Be Free And Fair – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the conduct of the Ondo state gubernatorial election will be similar to that of Edo state.

The electoral body said just like Edo, the vote of the people of Ondo will also count.

INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, gave the assurance when he spoke in Akure, Ondo capital.

He was on a three-day working visit to the state to assess the level of preparedness of the commission for the election.

Mahmood said the commission will do everything within in its power to protect the integrity of the process, adding that the will of the people will not be subverted.

The INEC helmsman disclosed efforts were in top gear to replicate the same measure of preparations deployed in the conduct of the Edo election.

“I want to assure the people of Ondo state that just like Edo, their votes will count; the votes of the people in Ondo state will count. Our responsibility is to ensure that we protect the integrity of the process and the integrity of the choice that they make,” he said.

He added that the damage caused by the fire in its Ondo office will not affect the election.

“We have already recovered. Unfortunately, we lost 5,000 smart card readers, but we recovered by getting the prerequisite number of card readers from neighbouring Oyo State, and they have been delivered,” he said.

“They have arrived, been charged and configured and ready for election on October 10 in Ondo state. Importantly, we will use the Z-pads to upload results on election day real-time, and we have moved those Z-pads from Edo to Ondo state for the election.

“So, the same preparations that we made for Edo, we have also made for Ondo.”

He said a stakeholders meeting would hold next Monday, while the signing of the peace accord involving political parties and their candidates will take place on Tuesday.

Rufus Akeju, INEC residential electoral commissioner in Ondo state, in his address, said the commission is making conscious and concerted efforts towards ensuring the conduct of a credible election.

“This is our firm resolve in a bid to consolidate democracy in the country. As the head of the commission in Edo state, I assure you of the professional efficiency, integrity and preparedness of the proper staff on ground to conduct this election,” Akeju said.

“We would be guided by the ethics, integrity, professionalism and impartiality in the conduct of the election. You can take my word for that.”