Following the forthcoming of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi governorship elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has declared that the Commission is not a political party and does not have a candidate in the November 11 Governorship elections.
The INEC Chairman made the declaration while addressing the staff of the Commission during a working visit and readiness assessment in Bayelsa and Imo States at the weekend.
Yakubu pointed out that all what INEC is interested in is to ensure that the people of Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States choose whoever they want to be their governors, adding, ‘our responsibility is to protect the people’s choice.”
He assured, concretely, that INEC is committed to a credible process.
Yakubu thus charged staff of the Commission to remain non-partisan and maintain their integrity.
Yakubu, who was accompanied by the Hon. National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in both states, admonished the INEC staff that “INEC is not a political party and does not have a candidate in the November 11 Governorship elections.
“All we are going to do is to ensure that the people of Bayelsa and Imo States choose whoever they want to be their governors and our responsibility is to protect the people’s choice.
“We are committed to a credible process”, he declared.
The INEC Chairman also called on the Electoral Officers (EOs) in both states to ensure that all Registration Area Centres (RACs) are fully activated early enough to enable smooth conduct of the elections.
Prof. Yakubu disclosed that part of the Commission’s determination is to ensure that poll officials live up to their responsibilities on election day, adding that a refresher training would be organized on Friday 10th November 2023, apart from “the refresher training we are going to conduct this week Friday, Saturday and Sunday”.
In continuation of the working visit, the INEC Chairman and his entourage also met with Members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICESS) in both states. Addressing the heads of the security agencies, Prof. Yakubu stated that the principal aim of the meeting was to appraise their readiness in preparation for the November 11 elections.
Measures to guarantee the protection of Voters, Election Personnel, Materials, Collation Centres and Transport Providers were among the significant security issues discussed throughout the meeting.
Furthermore, the Chairman led the joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters on a tour of some of the Commission’s facilities in Yenagoa Local Government office to examine the available non-sensitive materials ahead of the off-cycle elections.
The National Commissioners in the Chairman’s team were Barr. May Agbamuche-Mbu who also supervises Bayelsa state, Ken Ukeagu who supervises Imo state, Sam Olumekun, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, Major General Modibo Alkali (Rtd) and Dr. Baba Bila.
Also, in the team were the Chairman’s Aides- Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) Prof. Bolade Eyinla, Special Adviser (SA) Prof. Mohammed J. Kuna and Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Rotimi Oyekanmi as well as Directors and other management staff from the INEC Headquarters.
