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updated 10:20 AM UTC, Dec 13, 2023

Ekiti: Electoral Body INEC Ready For July 14 Poll

VON: Independent National Electoral Commission in Nigeria has reiterated its resolve and readiness to conduct free, fair and credible poll in the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti, South-West Nigeria.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu gave this assurance on Monday at the stakeholders forum held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

The Commission had organised a meeting with the candidates and party stalwarts to restate its readiness and reel out its plans for the exercise.

The meeting also afforded the heads of security agencies, led by the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, to interact with politicians and other major players.

In the same vein, the forum provided an avenue for the fine tuning of all pertinent issues to ensure successful conduct of the poll.

According to Yakubu, 35 political parties will be participating in the election that will be held across the 16 Local Governments in Ekiti.

On security matters, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris said 30,000 policemen and 4,000 other security officers shall be deployed to enable a hitch free exercise.

He won said assured Nigerians of non-partisanship of the security operatives but warned that the police and other law enforcement agents would not tolerate any breach of law and other by party supporters.

The meeting, however, ended abruptly as participants left without resolutions and commitments to peace. Such pledges to ensure peaceful conduct at elections, are usually the practice.

The interactions had started on a peaceful note with the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti state, Abdulganiyu Raji, stating the readiness of the commission for the conduct of Saturday election.

The National Commissioner for Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states, Solomon Soyebi also announced the extension of the collection of permanent voter cards.

Later on, some party supporters took over the stage, chanting the name of their aspirant.

The disruption eventually forced the INEC Chairman, the Inspector General of Police and candidates of other political parties to leave the meeting without a conclusion.

This is the third time a stakeholders conference on Ekiti election is being disrupted.

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