INEC deploys 5 national commissioners,12 RECs, others for Saturday’s Osun guber poll

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the commission is deploying five National Commissioners, twelve Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) and other senior officials for more effective supervision of the Osun governorship election on Saturday.

Speaking at the Osun governorship election stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo on Tuesday, Yakubu said the commission has taken every step and made every arrangement for the successful conduct of the election.

“So far, we have successfully implemented 12 out of 14 activities contained in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election. The only two outstanding activities are the last day of campaign by political parties which ends at midnight on Thursday 14th July 2022 and election day activities on Saturday 16th July 2022. 

“The Commission has taken every step and made every arrangement for the successful conduct of the governorship election this weekend. We held consultative meetings with political parties and their candidates. We had several engagements with the security agencies at national, State and local government levels. We consulted with stakeholders. 

“We sought for, and received, the blessings of royal fathers and religious leaders. We have recruited, trained and carefully screened all categories of ad-hoc staff to be deployed to the field. All non-sensitive materials for the election have been delivered to all our 30 local government area offices across the State. Voter education and sensitisation is ongoing. We have made arrangements for the transportation of personnel and materials to ensure that polling units open on schedule on election day.

“We also want to make PWDs to get more involved in election administration like everyone else. In this regard, the 2022 Osun State governorship election will also make history, being the first election in which INEC is deploying PwDs as ad hoc staff. Thirty-five (35) serving NYSC members with one form of disability or another have been identified, trained and engaged as ad hoc staff at polling unit level,” he said.

In his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Osun State, Professor Abdulganiy Olayinka Raji said INEC had mapped out strategies on all flash points identified while all issues were resolved in an effort to have conclusive election on Saturday.

Also the National Commissioner in-charge of Ogun, Ondo and Osun, Prof. Kunle Ajayi stressed that INEC is fully committed to conduct credible election as well as inclusive one.

He urged the people of Osun State to come out enmmass and conduct themselves well during the election in an effort to achieve the needed credible results.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba said that appropriate security measures have been put in place with the deployment of over 21,000 personnel to all the 332 wards which covered three senatorial districts and nine federal constituencies.

Baba assured of adequate security of their lives and property and urged voters to come out and vote a candidate of their choice.