Abuja – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has attributed its success of Saturday’s Ondo State governorship election to faithful implementation of its plans and collaboration with stakeholders.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Sunday.
“Just like every other election, we planned toward it and we were faithful to the implementation in ensuring the election was not just successful but also considered to be free and fair.
“We learn from recent elections and make consequential preparation for the election.
“We would not have been successful without the collaboration of stakeholders, especially the security agencies, National Youth Service Corps, civil society organisations, observers, media and others.
“Most importantly, the people of Ondo state collaborated with us by obeying all the rules and regulations guiding the election.’’
Uzzi said they rejected vote buying and made their votes count. This represents how much they want their votes to be counted. This is how it should be and this is how it was planned to be.
“With the understanding and collaboration of stakeholders as demonstrated in Ondo, there would be mutual benefit to all’’, he said.
He called for the continued support of stakeholders in future elections adding that the commission was committed to improving the country’s electoral process.
The director pledged that the commission would continue to improve on identified little challenges with a view to improving on the electoral system and rebuilding its confidence in the citizens.
Ondo Poll peaceful; Election situation room
Nwanko said this during a post election press conference on Sunday in Akure.
He said the situation room for the Ondo election commend the professionalism displayed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the voting process at the polling units.
He acknowledged the participation of all political parties in the election despite media reports of
call for postponement by some, and expressed satisfaction with the way all adhered to the peace accord they entered into before the election.
He said that observations and reports from the field indicated that there was early distribution and deployment of personnel and materials, which led to commencement of voting at scheduled time of
8 a.m. on Saturday.
Security personnel carried out their duties in a civil way even though there were isolated incidents of misconduct by some.
He, however, added that there were challenges with receiving collated results from local governments that were distant from Akure, the state collation headquarters.
According to him, it created delay in the announcement of results from all of the councils at the same time and advised that further work be done to improve collation time in future election.
“There was still much concern that the general arrangement of some polling units with inadequate floor spaces compromised vote secrecy.
He noted that the situation room observed in Polling Unit 005, Ward 01, Akoko South East and Polling Unit 005 Ward 03 in Idanre councils respectively, report of police officer found collecting envelope from party agents.
The situation room also observed that there was poor welfare condition for security personnel deployed for the election and security men complained of lack of support and welfare package.
Nwanko also noticed the issue of vote buying by political parties in the election, saying reports of parties paying voters to induce support had continued and posed a threat to free election in Nigeria.
NAN reports that the situation room is made up of Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) working in support of credible and transparent election in Nigeria.
