INEC chairman warns staff of consequences for dereliction of duty ahead of Ondo election
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has issued a stern warning to the Commission’s staff, stating that any form of dereliction of duty during the Ondo State governorship election will have consequences.
Yakubu’s warning came on Thursday, November 7, 2024, during a stakeholders’ meeting at the International Culture Centre in Akure, where he emphasized the importance of every staff member fulfilling their responsibilities with the utmost professionalism and commitment.
“The election is a multi-stakeholder activity,” said Yakubu, “INEC has a role to play, and we have always worked in consultation with all stakeholders. However, our role must be complemented by the active involvement of every participant, especially our staff.”
Yakubu informed the meeting that he would address the Electoral Officers from the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State on Friday, November 8, to reinforce these expectations and ensure that the election runs smoothly.
The INEC Chairman also stressed the importance of political parties maintaining order, urging them to continue to encourage their supporters to refrain from any disruptive behavior.
In an effort to ensure transparency and accountability, Yakubu announced that accreditation tags have been issued for all party agents. The tags will include the agents’ names, photographs, and locations of deployment, with a QR code that can be scanned by mobile phone applications. He pointed out that this initiative is designed to eliminate the practice of issuing party tags that lack proper identification, which has previously led to incidents of impersonation and disputes at polling and collation centers.
Yakubu added, “The practice of issuing party tags without names, photographs, or locations of posting must stop. This is how, in some locations, we have had impersonators—multiple people claiming to be agents of one political party, often leading to conflicts.”
He urged political parties to follow the example of accredited observers and media organizations by using the official tags provided by INEC.
Additionally, Yakubu announced that candidates participating in the Ondo governorship election are required to sign a Peace Accord on Friday, November 8, 2024, at 10:00 am at the same venue. He invited all stakeholders to attend the ceremony and emphasized the importance of abiding by the terms of the Accord for a peaceful election.
“I urge all candidates to honor the Peace Committee by being present tomorrow and, most importantly, to respect the terms of the Peace Accord for the success of a peaceful election,” Yakubu concluded.
