The European Centre For Electoral Support (ECES) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have intensified strong campaign against electoral violence ahead of this week’s gubernatorial election in Ondo State.
Speaking at a workshop in Akure, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Ambassador Dr. Rufus Akeju called on the participants at the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) also known as the Red Zone Implementer’s Workshop for the State to take advantage of the training in order to educate the public on the need to avoid every form of electoral violence during the election.
According to Akeju, “the same workshop was held in August 2020. Since the August Workshop, Ondo State INEC has advanced in leaps and bounds with respect to the preparation for the Ondo Guber Election”.
Akeju submitted that the delivery of the non-sensitive materials has been batched and distributed to the local government areas of Ondo State. He also said that the publications of the final lists of the candidates contesting the Ondo Governorship Election has been concluded among others. He equally emphasized that security personnel have been trained and deployed in order to forestall any electoral violence. Akeju equally explained that discussion with the Boat Operators at the riverine local government areas of Ilaje and Ese-Odo are also ongoing.
He counselled all the people of Ondo State of the importance of taking personal responsibility for their safety against COVID-19 by the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and as stipulated in the INEC’s policy on conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 protocols.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
