INEC Gears Up for November 11th, Rigoruos Gubernatorial Elections with Hope for Civility

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, announced that 5,169,692 Nigerians holding Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) are poised to cast their votes in off-cycle Governorship elections scheduled for Saturday, November 11th, 2023. Remarkably, this marks the first time in Nigeria’s history that gubernatorial elections will take place simultaneously across three geo-political zones: North Central (Kogi), South East (Imo), and South South (Bayelsa). The sheer scale and geographical diversity of this electoral endeavor underscore its significance in the nation’s democratic evolution.

INEC Emphasizes Impartiality and Transparency for Triple-State Election Day

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, emphasizing the paramount role of Independent National Electoral Commission as a neutral entity in the electoral process, called upon both regular and ad-hoc officials to uphold the highest standards of patriotism and professionalism. During his recent readiness assessment visits to Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa, Yakubu reiterated that INEC is not aligned with any political party and does not endorse any candidate. The primary mission of Independent National Electoral Commission is to safeguard the electoral process, ensuring a level playing field for all political parties and candidates. The Chairman stressed that the fate of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States lies solely in the hands of the voters.

INEC’s Rigorous Preparations Across Challenging Terrains

As the Election Day approaches, Independent National Electoral Commission has executed comprehensive preparations to guarantee a smooth and transparent electoral process. All sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections have been successfully delivered. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has been configured for deployment to Polling Units, serving as the sole means of voter verification and fingerprint/facial biometric authentication. To enhance transparency, Polling Unit results will be swiftly uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

In a testament to INEC’s commitment, all election duty officials have undergone rigorous training to ensure competence and adherence to electoral guidelines. Additionally, arrangements have been made for both land and maritime transportation to facilitate timely commencement of voting. Despite the challenging terrains and physical infrastructure limitations in some locations, Independent National Electoral Commission is determined to have officials present and ready for voters, eliminating any undue delays.

Strategic Deployment: INEC Ramps Up Resources for Gubernatorial Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations for the upcoming off-cycle gubernatorial elections scheduled for Saturday, November 11th, 2023. In a recent statement, Professor Yakubu announced a comprehensive deployment plan to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections in three key states.

For this crucial electoral exercise, INEC is set to deploy a formidable team, including two (2) National Commissioners, nine (9) Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), and Administrative Secretaries (ASs). Additionally, a pool of additional staff from various states will be strategically placed across the senatorial zones in the concerned states. This proactive deployment aims to enhance the efficiency of the electoral process and facilitate a seamless experience for voters.

A Collaborative Approach: INEC Stresses Multi-Stakeholder Responsibility

Emphasizing the collaborative nature of electoral processes, Professor Mahmood Yakubu highlighted the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach. Acknowledging the lessons learned from previous elections, he asserted that Independent National Electoral Commission is committed to ensuring free, fair, and credible elections. However, he also underscored that the responsibility does not rest solely on INEC’s shoulders.

In his statement, Professor Yakubu expressed gratitude for the assurances received from security agencies, ensuring a secure environment for all participants in the electoral process. This includes voters, electoral officials, accredited observers, the media, and polling/collation agents. Notably, political parties and candidates have already pledged their commitment to a peaceful electoral process by signing the peace accord facilitated by the National Peace Committee (NPC). The call to maintain peace resonates as a key theme in the lead-up to the elections.

Consolidating Democracy: INEC’s Plea for Civic Responsibility

As Nigeria stands on the brink of this historic triple-state election, INEC’s unwavering dedication to fairness, transparency, and efficiency sets the stage for a democratic milestone that will shape the political landscape of Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa States.

In rounding off his statement, Professor Mahmood Yakubu urged all stakeholders, including citizens, to play their roles conscientiously. He stressed that by actively participating in the democratic process and maintaining a peaceful environment, everyone contributes to the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. As the nation gears up for this gubernatorial election, the INEC chairman’s call for responsible citizenship echoes the collective need to uphold the values of democracy and ensure the success of the electoral process on November 11th, 2023.