Chairman, Independence National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has appealed to political parties, candidates, and supporters to maintain peace during the governorship election in Ondo State.

Mr Yakubu made the appeal while monitoring the 2024 Ondo State Mock Accreditation held on Wednesday across the three senatorial districts of the state.

INEC is scheduled to conduct the Ondo State governorship election on November 16, 2024, with 18 political parties to participate in the election.

The INEC chairman, who said that the exercise was part of the commission’s preparation, said the maintenance of peace would enable the commission to conduct a free and fair election.

He also said that the mock accreditation was to further test the functionality of their system.

He said, “In the last election, our machines performed optimally but we cannot take that for granted. We will ensure that the polling units open on time so that voters will not come and wait for INEC officials and materials. And we have tested the integrity of the machines. It is not the matter of early deployment, but also early accreditation. We are doing our best as an electoral commission and others should also do their best, particularly political parties and their candidates. I want to appeal to political parties, candidates and their supporters to ensure that they maintain the peace that will enable us to deploy and conclude the process in good time. And also to announce the candidate people of Ondo State are choosing as their governor on Saturday.’’

Earlier, Usman Isiaka Taiwo, who was accredited at the Ijapo High School, Akure, Ward 4 Unit 41, applauded INEC for the conduct.

“There is no delay in the exercise, and I will come along with my family to cast our votes for the candidate of our choice,” he said.

Also, Adebimpe Bankole, who was accredited at Alagbaka Primary School, Akure, Ward 5 Unit 18, scored INEC 80 per cent for the mock exercise.

Mrs Bankole said, “I am satisfied with the process because I did not waste any time before I did my accreditation. I would have given them 100 per cent but I can’t, rather I will give them 80 per cent because they have done well. By God’s grace, I will come out on Saturday, November 16 for the election proper to cast my vote.’’

The INEC national chairman visited Ijapo High School, Akure, Ward 4 Unit 41; and Alagbaka Primary School, Akure, Ward 5 Unit 18. He was also at Ward 10 Unit 12 in Owena, and Ward 10, Unit 1, Aiyetoro/ Owena, Idanre Local Government Area in Ondo Central Senatorial District, two local government area offices of the commission including Ile-Oluji/ Okeigbo in the  Ondo North Senatorial District. 

(NAN))