INEC fully prepared for Edo governorship poll — Prof Yakubu

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, says the commission is fully prepared for the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State.

Prof. Yakubu, who stated this on Thursday in Benin during the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), stressed that the election must hold on the scheduled date.

Edo 2020: Ex-police chief warns against external intervention

Justice for Uwa: Obaseki lauds Edo Police Command for arresting suspects

“INEC is ready for this election and I also trust that the security agencies are fully prepared to deal with potential trouble makers. We will make the system transparent.

“Out of the 14 activities itemized for the election, 10 have been successfully carried out on schedule, remaining four. So, in terms of preparation we are ready for Edo election,” he said.

Prof. Yakubu, who said the commission had come out with a policy on how to conduct election under COVID-19 situation, stated that this is the first time INEC would be conducting a major election in the prevailing environment.

He said there was additional pressure to ensure that INEC did not only conduct free, fair, credible and peaceful poll but also a safe one for all stakeholders.

“We have test-run the policy in a small election on August 8 in Nasarawa State’s by-election and now we are ready for the Edo and Ondo states’ elections,” he added.

The INEC chairman said he visited the state to meet with ICCES on peaceful election and INEC staff as well as electoral officers across the 18 LGAs to supervise and see the level of preparation so far for the election.

Prof. Yakubu, who said the environment must be secured before INEC could conduct election, assured that the commission would take every step to ensure that the atmosphere was conducive.

He said political parties would sign peace accord few days to the election to ensure a peaceful environment.

On his part, the Edo State police commissioner, Johnson Kokumo, said the police were prepared to address security issues on both land and water ways during the election.

Kokumo said the police had commenced training of security personnel for the election, adding that they are working in synergy with other security agents to ensure peace before, during and after the poll.