We’ll Guarantee Early Opening Of Polls During Ondo 10 Election – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come out to say that it is working hard to guarantee the early opening of polls and declaration of results during Nigerian elections.

INEC recently revealed that this is the plan ahead of the Oct. 10 governorship election in Ondo State.

According to Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, the commission would pay particular attention to places that have difficult terrains, as regards the deployment of materials early and delivering results in time.

He added that the citizens must be aware that INEC is also permitted to seek the support of the military in moving materials to locations.

His words, “Just yesterday, we discovered that between Ese-Odo and Ilaje, we have 270 polling units that are riverine areas.

“So, we have to quickly mobilise the boats and to get the results out early.

“The last time we have the support that we need, because the boats that we use to move materials and to bring results back, have no headlights, so, they are hardly use at night, but the Navy provided support, because their boats have illumination.

“Fortunately, the law empowers the commission to seek the support of the military in moving materials to locations.

“So, I assure you that we are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that we deploy promptly and will also get results out to the state capital in good time.

“The longer it takes to make a declaration, people will begin to assume something fishy is about to happen with the result.

“So, we will ensure that results are promptly deployed and declared to restore people’s confidence on the electoral system.”

“We will continue to take steps to ensure that we do so, but it is happening in a number of ways.

“We can only handle or attempt to solve this problem, while it happens at the polling unit level.

“But when it happens outside the poling unit, it is difficult to track the perpetrators now that we are aware that vote buying has gone digital.

“They now transfer money electronically ahead of the election, no longer during the election.

“So, we will continue to do whatever we can to ensure that people don’t buy votes at the polling units.”