As the governorship election in Ondo state draws near, the independent national electoral commission (INEC) resident electoral commissioner (REC) in the state, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola has charged politicians to abide by the rules guiding the electoral process.
Mrs Babalola stated this in Akure at the weekend while addressing journalists.
Mrs Babalola noted that INEC officials would most times decide to stop the collation process when and where they felt their lives are in danger.
She said the collation could be moved to the headquarters in situations where such officers felt their lives are under threat at either ward or local government level.
“How will you feel in a situation whereby thugs took over the collation centers, brandishing cutlasses, guns and other weapons that can harm you?,” she asked.
She then urged political parties to rein in on their members before, during and after the election in order to achieve a peaceful process.
“INEC is working closely with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure a secure environment for all election stakeholders.
“Security personnel will be deployed across all polling units, collation centers, and strategic locations to prevent any form of electoral malpractice or violence. I urge all citizens to remain calm and law-abiding throughout the election process,” she added.
Mrs Babalola during the media engagement also informed journalists that no fewer than 2,053,061 voters would be eligible to vote during the upcoming election.
The breakdown shows that 50.36% are males; 49.64% females; 35.41% youths; 35.17% middle age; 21.51% elderly; 7.92% old and 0.09% People living with disabilities.
The REC also urged all registered voters in the previous registration exercise who are yet to collect their PVCs to do so, as this process is ongoing at our LGA offices.
“We shall simplify the collection process and establish PVC collection centers in all Registration Areas (RA) and in the Local government areas for ease of access,” she noted.
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