·Parties, candidates sign peace accord
·Kick against vote buying, electoral malpractices
Ahead of Saturday's governorship election in Ondo State, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has received 'sensitive' materials for the exercise.
The balloting materials were conveyed by the Nigeria Airforce to Akure, the state capital, yesterday.
Disclosing this on its X handle, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said: "Sensitive materials for the Ondo State Governorship election, scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2024 have arrived in Akure, the State capital, and received by officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The materials were conveyed to Akure by the Nigeria Air Force."
This happened as the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, retd, held a pre-election dialogue where stakeholders canvassed peaceful and credible poll.,
Organized by the Kukah Centre with support from the European Union, stakeholders at the parley include the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations; Ondo State Commandant of NSCDC; the Asae of Akure land; INEC representative; the IPAC State Chairman; religious leaders, media personnel, CSO representatives, and various political party candidates.
It was aimed to deepen understanding of the Ondo State Peace Accord, foster greater stakeholder participation, and reinforce accountability among signatories.
Discussants addressed pressing issues such as preventing vote-buying, enhancing strategies to combat electoral malpractice, fostering collaboration among security agencies, and tackling the spread of misinformation during and after the election.
The engagement provided a platform for insightful exchanges and a renewed commitment to peaceful election in Ondo State.
Delivering a keynote address, the Chairman of the Ondo State Peace and Mediation Working Committee, Senior High Chief Adegbonmire, who is also the Asae of Akureland, called for peaceful exercise.
Abdulsalami sues for peace, due process
The Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, urged the party leaders and candidates to accept the outcome of the election as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair, and credible, and to seek legitimate and peaceful means of addressing any concern that may arise thereafter.
Abubakar said this during the signing of the peace accord by all the governorship candidates and their parties.
His words: "I want to call on all stakeholders to work assiduously in their capacities to ensure that peace reigns supreme during this election and that the Ondo state off-cycle election sets a precedent for other off-cycle elections to emulate.
"While I commend the INEC, for the work done so far, I call on them to continuously live up to their responsibilities in ensuring that eligible voters exercise their franchise peacefully and that the remaining electoral processes are credible, free, and fair.
"I must also extol the Nigeria Police Force and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, for maintaining peace and security in Ondo State.
"It has indeed remained one of the relatively peaceful states in the country. I therefore urge them to remain resilient in averting any threats of violence and maintaining the peace in the state as we are only a few days away from the elections."
Abubakar cautions voters against vote-selling
Abubakar called on the people of Ondo State to exercise their civic duty by coming out en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice and desist from selling their votes, as it contradicts the very essence of democracy.
We're ready, to deploy 17,000 officials --INEC
Chairman of the INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission has perfected its arrangements for the movement of over 17,000 ad hoc and regular officials as well as large quantities of materials to 4,154 voting and collation locations (3,933 polling units, 203 Ward and 18 LGA collation centres).
43,157 police, security personnel'll be on ground--IGP Egbetokun
In his address, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun said the Police will timely provide enough Armoured Personnel Carrier (APCs), trucks, patrol vehicles, buses for covert operations; ambulances, helicopters, drones, K9 and anti-riot equipment to complement the strength of Ondo State Command.
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Egbetokun said the Police would deploy 34,657 personnel to the polling units, wards/LGA collation centres as well as other strategic locations.
"It is expected that four Police personnel will be deployed to each polling unit, which then implies that 15,732 conventional police personnel will be required for the 3,933 polling units and voting points in the State."
"This will be complemented by the Armed Forces, the Intelligence Security Agencies and other sister Security Agencies. A total of 8,500 personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency will be deployed to augment the Police strength. This will bring the total number of security personnel deployed for the election to 43,157."
