The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to stakeholders in the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State to work towards the conduct of a successful election.
The appeal was made on Monday by INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Abdulganiy Olayinka Raji, who made it known that 18 political parties have nominated governorship candidates for the election. He, however, declined to mention their names.
Raji while meeting the stakeholders on the devolution of the continuous voters registration (CVR) exercise to registration areas (RAs/Wards) in Osun, said that the election has been scheduled for Saturday, July 16, adding that the commission had embarked on various activities to ensure a successful conduct of the governorship election.
He said that these activities included conversion of voting points to polling units to decongest existing pooling units and ease voting processes on the day of the election.
He added that 753 voting points were successfully converted to substantive polling units in 2021.
Raji remarked that the main purpose was to ensure that un-served and under-served voting public due to new settlements, relocations and young Nigerins that attained the a
Raji remarked that the main purpose was to ensure that un-served and under-served voting public due to new settlements, relocations and young Nigerians that attained the age of 18 years were all taken care off.
He also re-assured stakeholders that INEC is much more committed to providing a level playing field for all candidates and political parties partaking in the forthcoming election.
The commissioner pointed out that to “serve as an independent effective election management body (EMB) committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible election for sustainable democracy in Nigeria and core values such as: autonomy, transparency, integrity, credibility, impartiality, dedication, equity, excellence and team work.”
He then assured that the commission would also do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that people’s votes count.