The January 18, 2025 Local Government Election in Ondo State will be free, fair, transparent and credible. The Commissioner in charge of Strategy and Training at the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Prof. Tajudeen Ibraheem gave this assurance in an exclusive interview with the political reporter of The Hope, Jubril Bada. Following are the excerpts of the interview as published in the Thursday January 9, 2025 edition of the newspaper:
How is ODIEC ensuring that the January 18, 2025, local government elections are free, fair and credible?
The January 18, 2025, local government elections are sacrosanct. We are putting all the necessary machinery in place, and all the logistics are set.
I want to assure the good people of Ondo State that the forthcoming local government elections will be free, fair, and credible. I can promise you that. All arrangements have been made.
So, nothing short of a free, fair, and credible election.
What measures are in place to prevent political interference and maintain ODIEC’s independence?
Our name, Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, speaks for itself. It shows that we are independent.
We are not answerable to anybody. If you check the pedigree of the commission members, they are men and women of repute. The process will not be compromised. Whosoever wins will be declared.
How does ODIEC plan to address logistics challenges, especially in hard-to-reach areas?
As I mentioned earlier, we have made adequate arrangements. For areas such as the riverine regions and places like Okeagbe in the North Senatorial District of the state, we have made enough provisions.
We want to assure you that the election will hold as scheduled and will be free, fair and transparent. It will be highly credible because whosoever emerges will be declared the winner.
What steps are being taken to educate voters about the importance of local government elections?
To a large extent, we have done our best. However, the political parties themselves need to rise to the occasion. They must educate their members.
On our part, we have a dedicated officer in charge of voter education. To the best of our ability, we have educated the electorate about the importance of exercising their franchise before the coming elections. However, we do not have all the funds like INEC does.
I believe we are doing our best to ensure this election is successful.
What security arrangements are being made to ensure a peaceful election process?
The commission, through the chairman, has been holding a series of security meetings with all the security agencies in the state. They have assured us that they will deploy their personnel, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Southwest Security Outfit (Amotekun). Everyone will be involved in the election.
The security of voters will be guaranteed. Nobody will be harassed, molested or intimidated. It’s going to be a free and fair election, and the results will be credible.
How does ODIEC ensure inclusivity, particularly for marginalized groups like women, youth, and persons with disabilities?
To the best of our ability, we have made adequate arrangements.
For instance, during one of our training workshops, we brought in a facilitator with a disability to encourage people with challenges to participate in the electoral process.
There are provisions for persons with disabilities to vote. For example, someone they trust can assist them at the polling station. The same applies to illiterate or elderly voters. The law permits them to bring someone they trust to help them.
Does ODIEC have voting materials for blind voters to cast their votes?
The law allows blind voters to be accompanied by someone they trust. After accreditation, the trusted person can assist them in voting, even using their hand to thumbprint.
This provision also applies to elderly people who cannot see clearly. They can be accompanied by one of their children or a trusted individual, as permitted by the Electoral Act.
What is ODIEC’s strategy to combat voter apathy and encourage greater participation?
That’s a very good question, but you might be asking the wrong person.
The issue is that people need to believe in the system. Nigerians want change, but they don’t always want to participate in the process. We cannot force them.
We have been educating the public about this election. Since last year, we have utilized social media, mass media, and written materials to spread awareness. We’ve been on television, radio stations, and online platforms, informing people about the upcoming election.
I believe we have done our very best. However, overcoming apathy depends on the people. If they are interested, they will come out to vote. With the conversation around local government autonomy, I believe Nigerians are ready to take advantage of this opportunity.
How does ODIEC handle disputes or allegations of malpractice during and after the elections?
If there is a report, we will investigate it. Election malpractice is a criminal offence under the Nigerian Criminal Code. If we cannot handle it, we will refer it to the appropriate security agency, such as the police, for investigation, and the suspect will be charged to court.
There has been a suggestion to create an electoral offences court, but that has not been implemented yet. For now, if anyone is found to have compromised the process, the matter will be referred to the police for investigation and prosecution.
I want to assure the good people of Ondo State that we are committed to conducting a free, fair, credible and transparent election. Our antecedents speak for us.
We also urge voters to conduct themselves properly during the election. There should be no fighting. Let them exercise their franchise, wait for the votes to be counted, and accept whoever emerges as the winner.
