INEC, others review readiness for election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday reviewed its readiness to conduct a hitch-free governorship election in Osun State on September 22, 2018.The assessment was to enable the commission identify areas of threats and challenges, and come up with appropriate measures to tackle them.

At the review meeting held at the Western Sun Hotel Ede, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, commended the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES) for their initiative towards ensuring that the forthcoming election is credible, free and fair.

Yakubu, who was represented by his Chief Technical Adviser, Prof. Bolade Eyinla, urged participants, including electoral officers, head of operations, and assistant electoral officers, to take issues to be raised during the meeting with seriousness they deserve.He said the workshop would conduct a readiness assessment of the “Red Zones” period and also intimate implementors with the operational requirements for the zones.

According to him, dedication and cooperation of task owners, task managers and everyone would help to accomplish the objectives.There will also be assessment of the implementation status of all electoral activities in order to ensure that plan is on course in the run up to the election day.

Yakubu lauded the support of the Election Monitoring and Support Center for its critical role in the management of the Osun INEC plan. He said the commission had achieved 12 activities out of the 14 listed on the calendar and schedule plan for the election.

“It is 11 days today to the commencement of polls for the 2018 Osun governorship election. We have been able to record 12 of the 14 activities on the calendar and schedule of activities for the election to be fulfilled.”

“The remaining two items are at the close of campaigns by political parties on September 20, and the election proper on September 22,” he said.Project Coordinator of ECES, Mr. Rudolf Elbling, said the review strategies would help to put together and also familiarise functionaries of the commission with the structure and operational framework of the Election Monitoring and Support Center (EMSC) ahead of the election.

He expressed optimism that the needed impetus and lessons for the nationwide implementation of the EMSC ahead of the 2019 general elections would be achieved. Elbling commended INEC for its preparation for the Osun and 2019 general elections. He said ECES looked forward to forging enduring partnership, mutual collaboration and strategic engagement to strengthen democratic governance in Nigeria.