The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for early security preparations to boost the success of the two off cycle elections, ahead of the September 21 and November 16 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states respectively.
The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call yesterday in Abuja at the first quarterly meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
He commended the security agencies for the role they played during the 2020 governorship elections in the two states, which he attributed to early planning.
He also paid tribute to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army who died while on a peace mission in Otuama community of Delta State.
“It is important to start security preparations very early. In particular, the number of personnel and other assets to be deployed to strategic locations should be determined and mobilised early enough.
“Let us replicate the successful conduct of the last governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states. In fact, working together, we should ensure that the 2024 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states are an improvement on the success story of 2020,” Yakubu said.
He said that in the next few months, there will be further engagements with the security agencies and other members of ICCES at both national and state levels.
He noted that both Edo and Ondo states have 18 local government areas each and that at the moment, Edo has 2,501,081 registered voters, 192 Registration Areas/Wards and 4,519 Polling Units (PUs), while Ondo State has 1,991,344 registered voters, 203 Registration Areas/Wards and 3,933 PUs.
The INEC boss reminded the political parties participating in the Edo governorship elections that the nomination portal for the election will automatically shut down on Sunday, March 24, by 6pm asking those yet to upload the names and particulars of their candidates to do so without further delay.
