The Independent National Electoral Commission has guaranteed that the upcoming Edo State governorship election will proceed smoothly and without issues.
This assurance was provided by INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during the formal induction of 10 new Resident Electoral Commissioners in Lagos on Monday.
Prof. Yakubu expressed INEC’s dedication to conducting transparent and inclusive elections, emphasizing the commission’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of credible electoral processes. “We will continue to push the boundaries of credible and inclusive elections,” Yakubu affirmed.
His comments came in response to recent concerns following severe flooding that impacted INEC’s office in Edo State. The flood damaged over 4,000 electoral machines, raising questions about the preparedness for the forthcoming election. Addressing these concerns, Yakubu reassured the public that the commission had already taken steps to address the situation. “Although we had an unfortunate flooding in our office in Edo State, over 4000 machines were affected, but we deployed our technical staff, and we have already recovered over 3500 machines,” he said.
Yakubu explained that, despite the challenges, the election in Edo State, which is an off-cycle election, would be well-managed. “It seems like it’s an off-cycle election. We will call for additional support from neighboring states, so in terms of machines, rest assured that we have enough. We are going to recover from Edo, and rest assured that we won’t suffer any encumbrances at all,” he assured.
The induction ceremony welcomed ten new RECs who will be stationed across various states, including Mr. Abubakar Dambo from Kebbi State, Mr. Abubakar Ma’aji-Ahmed from Borno State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha from Edo State, Mr. Ehimeke Shaka-Isha from Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Aminu Idris from Kaduna State, Mr. Mohammed Sadiq Abubakar from Kwara State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola from Ondo State, Dr. Olubunmi Omoseyindemi from Ekiti State, Alhaji Shehu Wahab from Nasarawa State, and Sir Etekamba Umoren from Delta State.
Yakubu urged the new RECs to thoroughly familiarize themselves with INEC’s processes and procedures to effectively carry out their responsibilities. He emphasized the importance of their role in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
The ceremony also highlighted INEC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the electoral framework and ensure that future elections meet the highest standards of fairness and transparency.
