Tag: INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the collation of results for the governorship election conducted in Ondo State on Saturday. This is coming after the electoral umpire had announced results collated for 15 local government areas in the State.

Due to the distance of the remaining two LGAs, INEC suspended the collation of results to resume at 12 noon on Sunday. The collation officer, Prof Olayemi Akinwunmi announced the recess.

As of the time of filing this report, results from Ifedore, Ondo East, Ileoluji Oke-Igbo, Okitipupa, Akure North, Akure South, Akoko North West, Akoko South East, Ondo West, Owo, Irele, Idanre, Akoko South West, Ose and Akoko North East LGAs have been announced.

From the results collated so far the All Progressives Congress (APC) holds a significant lead of 189,019 votes, leading with 268,144 votes while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is trailing behind with 79,125 votes.

TNG reports the Labour Party (LP) has managed to garner 679 votes from results collated from the 15 LGAs so far and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has received 2,365 votes.

Meanwhile, as of 4:43:04 am on Sunday, 99.03% of the Ondo election results have been uploaded to the INEC results viewing portal known as IReV. It was observed on the IReV that results from 3895 polling units out of 3933 being expected have been uploaded.

The Ondo State Governorship election started on Saturday with heavy security presence consisting of personnel of the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) observed at strategic points across the state.

Armed security personnel were observed at strategic points such as the entrance into Akure, the state capital, major towns, the local governments secretariats  as well as on major roads in the state.

News reporters covering the election observed restriction of human and vehicular movements was relatively complied to in most parts of the state. Armed police personnel were seen at  the Mobil roundabout at Fiwasaye, Akure North LG while security teams in patrol vehicles were stationed at strategic points in Akure.

Also, major roads linking  the headquarters of Akoko North-East, Ikare-Akoko were blocked with heavy security agents. Police, Nigeria Correction Service officials, NSCDC, and FRSC personnel were also seen at the various polling units. Security personnel  comprising soldiers, police, NSCDC were also observed at strategic points in Okitipupa, Okitipupa LG.

Ondo 2024: Poll records early arrival of INEC officials, materials

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and election materials arrived early in most Polling Units in Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Local Government Areas of Ondo State.

The major roads to the headquarters of Akoko North-East, Ikare-Akoko were blocked by the security agents. Also electorate were seen trooping out to check their names at their various polling Units as at 7:00am

As early as 6:50 am, INEC staff at Idumado Unit 4 Ward 2, Kiribo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area were on ground. At about 7:30am at R.C.M School Unit 5, Ward 2, Kiribo, the polling booth was already set while the electorate were checking for their names on the voters register with the presence of security personnel.

Also, at about 7.00am, INEC staff were at Units 5 and 13, Ward 11, and Units 16 and 17, Ward 13, Okitipupa Local Government Area pasting the names of registered voters. Voters also have started coming out as few of them were seen at the polling Units checking the voters register for their names.

At Fiwasaye Polling Unit 36, Ward 5, Akure South Local Government Area, INEC officials and materials arrived at about 7:00am. At Polling Unit 17, Ward 4, Ijapo Estate, Akure South Local Government Area, the INEC officials were seen arranging tables and chairs with the presence of security agents.

Similar situation was at Polling Unit 19, Ward 4 with the INEC officials set for the election. It was observed that some private vehicles and motorcycles were seen plying the Mobil Road and Oba Adesida Road.

At polling Unit 7, Olokuta Junction, Ward 1, as at 8:20am the unit was yet to be arranged. The Presiding Officer, Omolola Adepoju said the delay was caused by a change in the venue.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has assured residents and electorate of maximum security during the Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

Mr Philip Ayuba, Deputy Commandant, General Operation Headquarters, Abuja, gave the assurance on Friday in Akure while speaking with newsmen on the corps preparation ahead of the election.

Ayuba, who said he was in the state on the directive of the NSCDC Commandant, General, Abubakar Audi, said that adequate security was in place to ensure the election was free, fair and credible.

“As all of us aware that tomorrow is the d-day, we, as security men are here to make sure that we deliver our services Our services here is to make sure that the election is free, fair and credible. That’s mean that no one is refusing to exercise his or her freedom.

“We want to assure you that after identifying all the flashpoints in the state, we have made adequate arrangements to make sure that we don’t have any intimidation in this exercise.

“We have taken care of all the flashpoints due to our population with that of police as a lead agency, and the civil defence have provided 6,225 personnel for this election.

“So, our men are ever ready, as you can see, we make sure we leave no stone unturned. We will make sure that this election achieves the success that should be recorded. The citizens should come out to exercise their franchise without any fear because we are ever ready,” he said.

Ayuba, who said that civil defense and other security agencies would make sure that the entire state was secured, said the corps personnel would also protect critical infrastructure.

“As we are all aware, aside of monitoring the election, we have a duty of protecting critical infrastructure here in the state to make sure that all the utilities here are not tampered with,” Ayuba said.

He, therefore, called on political parties and their supporters to shun any form of intimidation and criminalities during and after the election for the benefit of democracy in the country.

CDD urges electorate in Ondo to turn out en masse

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has urged the electorate in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State to turn out en masse and vote for democracy to triumph. The Chairman of CDD Election Analysis Centre, Africa,  Prof. Adele Jinadu, stated this at a pre-election news conference on Friday in Akure.

Jinadu said that people of the state should have a firm belief that their votes would count irrespective of perceived discouragement. He stated that it was worrisome that voter turnout in elections in the county have  continued to drop. The CDD EAC chairman added that voter apathy was dangerous for any democracy.

“Voter apathy leads to lack of accountability, increased disillusionment and can allow resentment and insecurity to fester,” Jinadu said.

He said that efforts must be made by all stakeholders to reverse the growing trend of citizens not wanting to engage with the democratic process.

The foremost political science scholar also urged political actors to eschew divisive and inciting tendencies capable of undermining peace before, during and after the election.

He said that the general security atmosphere leading to the election in the state had been relatively peaceful.

Jinadu, however, said that the centre was concerned about security situation in Akure South, Owo, Idanre and Akoko South-East local government areas of the state.

He promised that the organisation would continue to monitor engagements and provide as much support as needed to contribute to peaceful elections across the country.

Jinadu enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to remain impartial and carry out its duties diligently and patriotically.

Ondo election: Watch your votes, reject financial  inducement, JDPMC urges electorate

Justice, Development and Peace Makers Centre  (JDPMC), a Non-Governmental Organisation of catholic diocese of Osogbo, has called on the electorate to watch their votes during Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo state.

The NGO also urged the electorate to reject financial and other material  inducement during the election. This is contained in a statement by Rev. Fr. Peter Akinkunmi, the General Coordinator of JDPMC, on Friday in Osogbo.

Akinkunmi said that the pre-election observation and tracking activities of the organisation since July revealed  evidence of voters’ inducements, mostly through third parties, to rally support for various contestants.

The general coordinator said that JDPMC had been monitoring the trend of campaigns by contesting pollical parties across the state.

He said that this was done through a team of  trained campaign finance trackers and investigative journalists within the 18 local government areas of the state.

“With the funding and technical support of European Union Support for Democratic Governance (EU-SDGN) Phase II,  these trained trackers have been monitoring trend, outlook and developments of political campaign activities.

“JDPMC comparison between the campaign activities of the contesting political parties ahead of the 2020 and 2024 elections indicated a sharp drop in campaign activities.

“Given the situation,  JDPMC perceived that  there was likely to be massive vote buying and voter inducement on the  election day.

“JDPMC thus calls on all stakeholders to intensify campaign against vote buying and initiate deterrent mechanisms to guarantee the integrity of the election. We also call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  to ensure timely opening of polls

“Security agencies are called upon to be professional, while citizens are called upon not to only go out to vote, but to watch their votes,” he said.

Ondo 2024: Vote selling will mortgage quality governance – NGO warns electorate

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, an election observer organisation, has warned electorate in Ondo State against vote trading, saying such act will mortgage the quality of governance.

The Co-Convener of the organisation, Mr Franklin Oloniju, stated this at a pre-election news conference on Friday in Akure.

Oloniju said that vote trading was illegal and would undermine the development of the state. He urged voters to resist the temptation to exchange their votes for money or any other inducements. According to him, vote trading will negate the desire of the people of the state.

The co-Convener said that security agents must not compromise but bring to book anyone caught engaging in the act. Oloniju urged the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and all stakeholders to abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC’s guideline to deliver a fair, inclusive and credible election.

He appealed to INEC and security agencies to allow election observers have full access to the collation centres. Oloniju said that the organisation was committed to ensuring that the will of Ondo State voters was respected, promising that the organisation would continue to observe and report on the process to ensure accountability at every stage.

Security has been beefed up at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State ahead Saturday’s governorship election.

INEC has also begun the deployment of both regular and adhoc staff to their respective Registration Area Center (RAC) for the election.

A correspondent, who visited the INEC office in Okitipupa on Friday, said that officers of the Nigeria Police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were stationed in and outside the office to maintain decorum.

Vehicles  transporting sensitive materials and INEC staff to their various RAC’s were being thoroughly screened.

Sensitive materials like ballot papers, ballot boxes, Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines had also arrived the INEC office in Okitipupa ready for movement to racks.

Mr Adedayo Fakorede, an INEC senior official, told NAN that all the sensitive materials arrived Okitipupa late Thursday night

He said that the process of posting sensitive materials with INEC’s Supervisory Polling Officers (SPO’s), Assistant Polling Officers (APO) and others to their various RAC’s had begun.

“As you can see that we have started the posting of SPO’s, APO’s, with sensitive materials to their various RAC’s, other adhoc staff will be posted later today too.

“This is to guide against any form of lateness by INEC staff to their poling units, so that the election can begin at the appropriate time,” Fakorede said.

The Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday distributed sensitive materials to the 18 Local Government Area of Ondo State ahead of the Nov.16 governorship election in the state.

Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State monitored the exercise at the Akure branch of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

She said that the early distribution of the sensitive materials was to show that the commission was ready for the election.

The REC said that the sensitive materials were being distributed to ensure that no ward or polling unit was omitted.

She re-assured the residents of the state, political parties and all stakeholders, of the commission’s readiness to conduct a transparent, free and fair election.

“We promise that the commission will be transparent in the conduct of the election. You can see that the distribution exercise is going on very smoothly.

“The farthest local governments have started moving to their locations. All the other local governments have received their materials, they are checking and loading the vehicles.

“I’m sure that in another one and a half hours, we should be out of it. You can see the logistics we are distributing today and the vehicles are already moving. Ilaje has left, Ese-Odo has left, Okitipupa and Irele are loading. They will soon leave.

“Then we move to the next set, Akoko North-East, North-West, Akoko South-West, South-East, Owo and Ose, they have collected all their materials and they will leave any moment from now.

“Then Odigbo, Ondo-East, Ondo-West, Ifedore, Axis, they are leaving. We are on course. We are moving. The movement is not local government by local government. We are doing simultaneous movement,” she said.

The REC explained the difficult terrain on water, Ilaje and Ese-Odo had been identified those areas and there were boats that would transport both men and materials.

“We also have the support of the Navy. They are giving us gunboats to secure the movement. For the land where we have difficult terrain, we will move out to the place where  vehicle can reach and we will continue the rest with suitable means of transportation,” she said.

Babalola, therefore, appealed to the political parties and their supporters to eschew violence on the election day and after the election.

The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Ade Adetimehin, and the State Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Adesanya Olaoluwa, commended INEC for their transparency in the exercise.

The duo said all the parties were ready to cooperate with the commission.

Representatives of the  political parties participating in the election and security agencies including the Police, NSCDC, FRSC, Immigration, Customs and DSS were at the venue of the exercise.

Meanwhile, INEC said it is tracking the movement of the sensitive materials and that so far, the materials have arrived in 13 LGAs. They are Ilaje, Irele, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Ose, Owo, Akoko North East, Akoko South West, Idanre, Ifedore, Akure North, Akure South, Ondo East and Ondo West.

“The remaining 5 LGAs will arrive shortly,” the Commission stated.

Earlier, the Supervising National Commissioner for Ondo, Ogun and Osun States, Prof. Kunle Ajayi and the Ondo REC, Babalola countersign the Ward and Local Government Area (LGA) Collation Result Sheets at the CBN, Akure, in the presence of stakeholders to further reassure them of the transparency of the process.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will today begin the distribution of sensitive materials for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled to hold on Saturday November 16 2024.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo disclosed this while assuring electorates and stakeholders of transparency.

Babalola gave the assurance during the inspection of sensitive materials by major stakeholders at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday in Akure.

The REC, who said the sensitive materials would be distributed on Thursday, explained that the inspection of the sensitive materials was in a bid to show the transparency of the commission.

According to her, showing the stakeholders the sensitive materials shows that the commission is committed to deliver a free, fair and credible election.

“The reason we invited critical stakeholders such as security officers, political parties, observers, media, among others, to this inspection is to show transparency. You can see that they are well wrapped, nobody has tampered with them.

“When we come tomorrow (Thursday) for distribution, we will open them one Local Government (LG) at a time and give them to the electoral officers.

“We will start with the furthest LG so that they can get there on time. When they get to the LG, distribution to registration areas and polling units will start,” she said.

Also, Mr Olumide Festus, a People Democratic Party (PDP) agent, and one of the stakeholders inspecting the sensitive materials, said it would go a long way to determine the outcome of the election.

“With these inspection, I believe that election will taking place as scheduled and I can see security agencies particularly here in CBN that they are fully on ground.

“And we too as a party, we are ready for the election and by the grace of God we shall win,” he said

Also, Ms Faith Nwadishi, Executive Director, Centre For Transparency Advocacy (CTA), applauded INEC for its transparency ahead of the election.

“With these sensitive materials, we believe that the election will hold as scheduled,” she said.