Ondo Poll: INEC Solicits Monarchs’ Support

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged traditional rulers in Ondo state to help promote peace and ensure the electorate complied with COVID-19 protocols during the October 10 governorship election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the appeal yesterday when he met with the traditional rulers in the state on the governorship election on Thursday in Akure.
Yakubu said that the meeting was to solicit the traditional rulers’ support to impress on their subjects the need to maintain peace and shun violence all through the process leading to the election and after.
“Basically, we seek for your support in three ways. First, to continue to appeal to political parties candidates and their supporters for peace, as you have always done in your domains.
“Secondly, to call on your people to observe the rules of personal and public safety.
“This is an election conducted in the context of a global health emergency -the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important for voters to vote and go home safely.
“Thirdly, we seek for your prayers for peace in Ondo State. We also seek for your prayers for INEC that election to be held on Saturday will be peaceful free, fair, transparent, and credible.
“Edo was a good election. We are determined that Ondo is going to be better. We did so in 2016. This commission conducted the last election in spite of the tension before the election.
“It was one of the best elections conducted by the Commission such that it remains the only governorship election in the history of Ondo State since 1999 whose outcome was not challenged in court,” he said.
“However, where voters, INEC officials, or security agents show symptoms, we have arranged with PTF and the Ondo State COVID-19 response team to immediately evacuate such persons to their isolation centers for treatment.