• Commits candidates, parties to peace accord today • Says voters will decide their Governor
• Pledges commission’s neutrality
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Ahead of saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has revealed that it has intensified collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to deal with votes buyers and the takers under the law.
This is even as the commission has concluded arrangement to commit the various candidates and their parties to signing a peace accord, today, with a view to maintaining the peace and orderliness before, during and after the election.
The Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the revelations yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital
at a stakeholders’ meeting between INEC and leaders of political parties participating in the Saturday’s elections among others.
Yakubu pointed out that the Commission is deeply worried by the use of money to induce voters on election day.
He described vote buying as a threat to the nation’s electoral democracy, stressing that everything must be done to discourage the practice.
The Commission, he disclosed, has changed the configuration of its polling units to bring the ballot boxes closer to the voting cubicles and also banned the use of mobile phones and photographic devices by voters while in the voting area.
The INEC Chairman said, “Like every conscientious Nigerian, the Commission is deeply worried by the use of money to induce voters on Election Day.
“Clearly, vote buying is a threat to our electoral democracy. To discourage the practice, we changed the configuration of our polling units to bring the ballot boxes closer to the voting cubicles and also banned the use of mobile phones and photographic devices by voters while in the voting cubicles.
“We have also intensified our collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to deal with both the buyers and the takers under the law. “I urge all stakeholders to join the Commission in tackling the menace”, he pleaded
Continuing, Yakubu added, “On Election Day, the national headquarters of INEC in Abuja will monitor the election throughout the State. Our Zoom Situation Room will be activated.
“We are working to ensure that accredited observers and the media are invited to join us at intervals to provide live reports from the field.
“At the same time, citizens can contact us on our various platforms such as the toll-free INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC) telephone line in addition to our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts”, he said.
The INEC Chairman reassured political parties, candidates and the electorate that the choice of who becomes the next Governor of Ekiti State is entirely in the hands of voters.
In his words, “INEC will not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate.
“Our focus is on the processes and procedures as provided by law.
“In this regard, the election holding this weekend is historic being the first Governorship election that the Commission will be conducting based on the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 which came into force about four months ago on 25th February 2022.
“It is also the first election to be conducted based on our revised Regulations and Guidelines anchored on the provisions of the new Electoral Act. We have also revised our Training Manual to reflect the provisions of the new Electoral Act as well as the Regulations and Guidelines.
“The Commission has accredited Polling Agents nominated by political parties for all the 2,445 polling units, 177 Ward collation centres, 16 Local Government Area collation centres and the State Collation Centre where the final declaration of result will be made.
“As a testimony to the intense national and international interest in the 2022 Ekiti State Governorship Election, 87 observer groups (79 domestic and 8 international) have been accredited to observe the election.
“Similarly, 483 journalists representing 91 media organisation were accredited to cover the election as at yesterday (Monday) afternoon”, he said .
The INEC stressed further, ‘I would like to seize this opportunity to invite you all to the signing of the Peace Accord by parties and candidates under the auspices of the National Peace Committee chaired by our respected former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR.
“The occasion is holding in this hall at 10am tomorrow (today) Wednesday 15th June 2022”, he said.
