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.
