INEC Chairman Assures Ondo Electorates Use Of BVAS, IREV 

… As 26,483 Policemen, Observers, Journalists Ready For Deployment 

By Joseph Sunday, Tayo Philip 

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has assured the Ondo State electorates on the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS and the Election Result Viewing Portal, IREV ahead of the Saturday, November 16th, 2024 poll in the State, stating clearly that a total number of 26,483 policemen, journalists as well as both local and foreign observers are now ready for deployment for the election.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu gave the assurance on Thursday at the International Culture and Event Centre, (The Dome) during the Stakeholders Meeting organised by the Commission to hear the views of the Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates of the 17 political parties contesting the November 16th Governorship Election as well as the security, traditional rulers and the civil society organizations in the State. 

According to the INEC boss, he said, “with eight days to the governorship election, only two outstanding activities provided in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election remains. 

He identified the two activities to include “the last day of campaign by political parties which, according to law, ends 24 hours before the date fixed for the elections at the midnight on Thursday 14th September 2024 and the election day on Saturday 16th November 2024.

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“He revealed further how the Commission was able to accredit a total of 111 domestic and international organisations deploying 3,554 observers for the election. We have also accredited over 100 radio, television, newspaper and online media organisations deploying about 700 personnel, including 129 female journalists, the largest number for any off-cycle Governorship elections in the Country. 

“We have also accredited thousands of agents representing candidates and political parties for all the polling and collation locations across the State. I want to assure you that the accreditation cards for all categories of stakeholders are ready. Our State office here in Akure will soon commence the distribution of accreditation tags, including election duty vehicle stickers”.

Addressing the stakeholders on behalf of the Inspector General Of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 17, AIG Abiodun Oladimeji Asabi made it clear that a total of 22,239 police officers have been concluded by the force to be deployed for the election, asides from additional manpower from other sister security agencies in the Country. 

The Country’s Police boss however advised the other stakeholders like the political parties, the governorship candidates and their agents to conduct themselves peacefully and lawfully, in line with global best practices. 

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He equally charged all the stakeholders to eschew violence, and avoid a do-or-die approach, and jettison any temptation to use thuggery but rather play the game according to the rules.

He warned that those who failed to accept defeat or abide the by rules after loosing will be made to face the law and subsequently prosecuted.

Adding, he charged the media and the election observers to report the election  objectively with no bias or sentiments capable of tampering with the peace in the State.

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Present at the venue of the stakeholders meeting includes the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi; governorship candidates of political parties; members of the civil society organizations in Ondo State; heads of security agencies in Ondo State; prominent key traditional rulers in the State; IPAC members and  journalists among others. 

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