The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has expressed confidence for a smooth and credible conduct of the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled for November 16. Speaking during his visit to INEC’s state headquarters in Akure on Monday, Yakubu noted that the commission has learned valuable lessons from past elections, particularly the recent governorship election in Edo State, in addressing logistics and results management issues.
Yakubu highlighted logistics as one of the primary challenges, emphasizing the importance of opening polling units promptly on election day to ensure a seamless process. He added that result management was another crucial area of focus, assuring voters in Ondo that INEC would implement significant improvements to enhance efficiency in these aspects.
The INEC chairman’s visit to Ondo was aimed at assessing the preparedness of the commission’s state office ahead of the upcoming election. He stated, “We have received positive reports from our state office in Akure, but we wanted to conduct a readiness assessment ourselves to ensure all aspects are on track.”
Yakubu also announced plans to engage with key stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, the media, and security agencies, to reinforce coordination efforts. Meetings with INEC staff would also form part of the assessment to gauge overall readiness.
Additionally, the INEC boss mentioned a scheduled mock accreditation exercise in 16 polling units across six local government areas within the state’s three senatorial zones. This exercise, he noted, would help INEC fine-tune procedures and address any logistical challenges before election day.
