The Independent National Electoral Commission has enlisted the support of the traditional institution in Ekiti State to ensure peace in the state before, during and after the June 20 Ekiti governorship election.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, who said the electoral body’s Continuous Voter Registration exercise would, from Monday, be devolved to the wards, also sought the monarchs’ support to ensure eligible persons in their communities participate.
The REC, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting with the traditional rulers, said that the traditional institution had enormous roles to play in the areas of peace and unity as their voices carried weight in their communities and state.
Omoseyindemi said that stakeholders’ commitment to peace and unity had continued to strengthen democratic governance in the state.
He said, “INEC has begun early and comprehensive planning to promote informed participation and ensure the Ekiti election is free, fair, credible and inclusive, conducted in a peaceful and conducive environment, well secured and in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Electoral Act 2022 as amended”.
As part of preparations, the REC said that the commission had held “meetings with the political parties and we have been able to give them the guidelines on participation and the code of conduct during the campaign. We are fully committed to learning from past experience and improving our process to meet the expectations of the people of Ekiti”.
He said, “The success of elections in our state is a shared responsibility. We count on your continuous support in promoting peace, discouraging violence, urging compliance with electoral laws, and fostering unity before, during, and after elections.
“As fathers of the land, your guardians will be instrumental in ensuring that Ekiti remains a model of peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria”.
While also enlisting the monarchs’ support in the ongoing CVR, the REC said, “Your voices carry weight and your endorsement will significantly enhance public confidence and turnout.”
He said, “The CVR exercise is aimed at ensuring that all eligible citizens who have attained the age of 18, as well as those who were previously unable to register, have the opportunity to be included in the national register of voters.
“CVR also provides opportunities for registered voters to transfer their registration from one location to another, correct errors in their personal details and replace lost or damaged permanent voter cards, which we call PVC”.
The REC said that the Commission had concluded plans to devolve the CVR exercise to the ward level beginning on Monday, February 2, “in a deliberate effort to deepen inclusion, enhance accessibility,
and reduce the challenges faced by prospective registrants.
“This initiative will bring registration centres closer to the people, particularly those in rural areas and hard-to-reach communities. By taking the CVR to the ward level, we aim to eliminate distance barriers, reduce overcrowding and encourage greater participation of eligible citizens in the electoral process,” the REC said.
The Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado, assured that monarchs in the state would sustain the roles they had been playing in ensuring peaceful elections in the state
Oba Adu-Alagbado said, “So far, we have not had any problem in Ekiti, and we are going to ensure we sustain that. All the royal fathers in the state are in it together. This year’s election will be peaceful like the ones before it. We assure you of our support”.
The traditional council chairman said that monarchs in the state would continue to talk to their communities collectively or in groups for peace. And there will be peace”.
Recall that INEC had on January 19 published the names of 12 parties, their candidates and deputies billed to participate in the Ekiti Governorship election fixed for June 20.
The electoral umpire, also, in compliance with its timeline for the Ekiti election and the Electoral Act 2022, had also announced the commencement of public campaigns effective from January 21.
The REC had, at a stakeholders’ meeting comprising political parties, civil society organisations, INEC staff and media, sought cooperation of all to achieve success in the election.
The Punch
