Ondo guber: We are fully ready — INEC assures

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has restated its readiness to conduct free and fair governorship election in Ondo State on November 16.

The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu made this known during his readiness assessment visit to INEC Local Government Area offices in Ondo State on Tuesday.

Yakubu, who physically visited some of the Commission’s local government area offices, said that all the non-sensitive materials were already at the LG offices.

“In terms of the level of preparation so far, I am really impressed by what the state and local government offices have achieved.

“What remains is the sensitive materials which will arrive on Tuesday next week.

“On Wednesday, there will be inspection of sensitive materials by all parties, candidates, observers, the media, security agencies and officials of the Commission.

“Then on Thursday, we will commence the movement of the materials to LGAs. And then, there will be the same inspection at the LGA levels before we move the materials to the wards on Friday,” he said.

According to the INEC boss, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machine had been charged and configured, explaining that they would be deployed along with the sensitive materials to the local government areas.

He, therefore, promised to continue improving on the Commission’s activities, and said that life jackets would be deployed to all officials going to riverine areas of the state.

“For those going to riverine areas, We have also devised the means of ramping the materials in case anything happens, the materials will float on the river and we pick them up.

“We place premium on the security of our own officials, either adhoc or regular as well as the security personnel who will accompany the election materials.

“Not only the riverine in Ondo State, but all the riverine area nationwide, all officials will be provided life jackets. This is part of our preparation,” he said.