2027: Ekiti REC seeks stakeholders’ support for credible polls

Map of Ekiti State. Photo: The Sun

The Independent National Electoral Commission has expressed readiness for the conduct of the 2027 general elections in Ekiti State.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, urged election stakeholders in the state to collaborate and play their parts to ensure a successful exercise.

Omoseyindemi, who spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Saturday during a stakeholders’ meeting convened to discuss the level of preparation for the 2027 general elections, said, “Our (INEC) preparations have been deliberate, comprehensive and proactive rather than reactive.”

Speaking to the stakeholders, he said, “Let us be guided by our common interest in strengthening democracy and ensuring that the voice of every eligible Nigerian is heard through a credible electoral process.

“The responsibility is collective. Political parties must conduct their activities within the ambit of the law; security agencies must remain professional and impartial; the media must uphold accuracy and responsible reporting, and citizens must participate peacefully and responsibly.

“Let us remember that the credibility of an election is not determined only on the election day; it is built through adequate preparation, effective collaboration and public confidence long before the first ballot is cast.”

Omoseyindemi stressed INEC’s commitment to conducting elections that are free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent, saying, “We will continue to uphold the principles of impartiality, accountability and professionalism in the discharge of our constitutional responsibilities.”

The REC, who said that security remains a critical component of election preparation, said, “Through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, we must continually identify, assess and develop appropriate responses to potential threats.

“We must pay particular attention to political violence, thuggery, vote buying, intimidation, hate speech, misinformation, disinformation and other activities capable of disrupting the electoral process. I urge all security agencies to sustain their cooperation with INEC and ensure adequate intelligence gathering, early warning, prevention and response mechanisms.”

As part of preparation to ensure hitch-free polls, the REC said that the state’s electoral commission was working towards ensuring that eligible citizens could update their records and collect their Permanent Voter Cards.

He added that it was also strengthening the capacity of its permanent and ad-hoc staff through appropriate training and retraining “to ensure that every election official understands his or her responsibilities and operates in accordance with established guidelines.”

He said that the electoral body was also reviewing its logistical requirements, including vehicles, motorcycles, generators, communication facilities, election materials, storage arrangements and deployment of personnel across the 16 council areas and 177 registration areas in the state “to identify logistical gaps early and develop appropriate solutions to ensure timely deployment of personnel and materials on election day.”

Omoseyindemi said that INEC would continue to strengthen the capacity of its personnel to deploy and operate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and other approved technological applications, among others.

Stakeholders at the meeting included representatives of political parties, security agencies, monarchs, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, youth and women’s groups, development partners, and other critical stakeholders.