The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that political parties contesting in the upcoming Ondo State governorship election will sign a peace accord on November 8.
This agreement aims to promote peaceful conduct before and during the polls.
INEC Chair Mahmood Yakubu made this announcement on Thursday during a meeting with civil society organisations at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja.
Yakubu reported that out of 89,777 permanent voter cards (PVCs) distributed in Ondo, 64,273 have been collected, representing a collection rate of 71.6%.
Yakubu assured that in the days leading up to the election, INEC will publish the cumulative PVC collection figures for each of the state’s 3,933 polling units on its website. This transparency measure is intended to enhance public awareness and ensure lawful result management.
The commission has also implemented upgrades in the voter accreditation process and in uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. Training for polling officials has been improved to ensure smooth operations on election day.
To ensure efficient logistics, particularly in challenging terrains, INEC has scheduled a mock accreditation exercise for November 6 across 12 polling units in Ondo’s six local government areas. This will allow officials to address any logistical challenges before the official election day.
Yakubu also shared that INEC will conduct a final review of its readiness, involving discussions with security agencies, transport providers, and other stakeholders, to ensure smooth operations. The peace accord, facilitated by former Nigerian head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar, will see all parties commit to a peaceful electoral process.