Dr. Mutiu Agboke, the Osun State resident electoral commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has reaffirmed that the revalidation process is still on hold in the state.
During the ongoing stakeholder engagement meetings in Osun State’s local government council areas on Tuesday, Agboke revealed that the Commission’s national headquarters issued the directive for the suspension, emphasizing that the ruling is still legally binding.
Speaking to stakeholders in Ife North, Ife Central, Ife East, Atakunmosa West, Ilesa East, and Ilesa West, he emphasized that everyone must take responsibility for the country’s growth.
According to him, the meeting’s main goals were to promote communication, establish confidence, and obtain firsthand knowledge of issues that can compromise the election’s smooth operation.
Voter apathy, logistical challenges, and the requirement for sufficient security were among the main concerns brought forward.
“Everyone is involved in the upcoming election. Political party candidates ought to acknowledge that God determines the winners and losers, he said.
Transport unions, members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and security agencies were urged by the REC to carry out their responsibilities during the election process.
Claiming that some corps members have engaged in election malfeasance in the past, he cautioned them from doing so.
“Corps members continue to tamper with ballot results and collude with politicians to undermine the election.” These corps members will be detained, charged, and imprisoned.
“Take caution. Give yourself some thought. During training, pay attention and make sure you are doing the correct thing. “Those who cause needless mutilation or cancellations will face legal action,” he declared.
Noting that all carriers would have to sign commitments before to the election, he also warned transport unions against accusations of collusion.
“INEC will consider any problems caused by a transporter to be sabotage, and the transporter will face legal action.” Don’t allow any politician to take advantage of you in order to undermine the election process. On election day, transport employees hired on an as-needed basis would not be able to cast ballots.
The Nigeria Police and other security agencies were urged by the REC to make sure that collation centers were adequately protected.
In order to prevent disturbance and violence, he continued, “I want security agencies led by the police to secure the collation centers with arms.”
He insisted that Osun State residents’ votes would ultimately decide the election’s result.
Political party representatives, meanwhile, emphasized difficulties such as poor security in rural regions, network problems, insufficient access to the Continuous Voter Registration procedure, and the inability to register voters in isolated places.
In order to improve efficient voter registration, certain stakeholders also urged INEC to take into account towns like Asipa and Akinlalu for demarcation.
Divisional police officers and electoral officers from all local governments told INEC that they were prepared to guarantee a peaceful process, promising to increase security measures in advance of the poll and resolve identified flashpoints.
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