We Won’t Share Responsibility Ahead Of Ondo Governorship Polls – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come out to say that the responsibility of appointing collation and returning officers with individuals, groups, or political parties will not be shared.

INEC National Commission and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye revealed this in a recent interview with the Newsmen in Abuja.

According to him, the concerns people have raised about the appointed chief returning officers for Ondo State governorship election are not necessary, because INEC has a very clear procedure of appointing collation and returning officers.

He added that it would make no sense to instigate needless controversy and speculation relating to the exercise of its statutory responsibilities ahead of the Ondo polls.

His words, “The commission has the sole responsibility of appointing collation officers for the various levels of collation.

“The commission will also appoint a returning officer for the governorship election.

“The commission has never and will never share the responsibility of appointing collation and returning officers with individuals, groups or political parties.

“The commission has the sole responsibility of making a determination of those to be appointed as collation and returning officers.

“It is also the responsibility of the commission to determine from which institution to appoint them.

“All the collation officers must subscribe to the iath of neutrality and must exhibit the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct.

“At the end of election on Saturday, there will be a returning officer for the governorship election.

“The commission has accredited polling agents of the political rpaties contesting the election.

“The results of the election will be declared at the polling units and collated at the registration area collation centre and the local government collation centres.

“The collation at the state level will be beamed live in the major networks and the agents of the political parties will be present.”