The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has advised the staff members of the commission to maintain their non-partisan stance and uphold their integrity as they prepare for the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states. Mr Yakubu gave this advice during his visit to some INEC offices to evaluate the level of preparedness for the upcoming elections, as highlighted in the commission’s bulletin in Abuja.
Mr Yakubu emphasized INEC’s commitment to ensuring credible elections in the states. He stressed that INEC is not a political party and does not have a preferred candidate for the November 11 governorship elections. Rather, INEC’s role is to ensure that the people of Bayelsa and Imo states are allowed to choose the candidates of their choice, without any external influence or interference.
The INEC Chairman also urged the Electoral Officers (Eos) in both states to activate all registration area centers (RACs) early enough to enable smooth conduct of the election. He reiterated the need for poll officials to discharge their responsibilities diligently on election day. As part of the commission’s determination to ensure successful elections, a refresher training was conducted on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with another scheduled for Friday, November 10.
Mr Yakubu and his entourage also met with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICESS) in both states. The meeting appraised security readiness in preparation for the upcoming elections, with measures discussed to guarantee the protection of voters, election personnel, materials, collation centers, and transport providers.
To ensure that the commission’s facilities are adequately prepared for the off-cycle election, Mr Yakubu also toured some of the commission’s facilities in Yenagoa to examine the available non-sensitive materials. The INEC Chairman was accompanied by the National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in both states.