Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Yakubu Mahmoud, has given an updated account of the commission’s preparations for the off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.
Within the next 24 hours, 5,169,692 Nigerians who have collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in the affected states are set to cast their votes to choose their next governors. This marks the first time in Nigeria’s history that these elections are being held concurrently on the same day and across three geopolitical zones: North Central (Kogi), South East (Imo), and South-South (Bayelsa).
Prof Yakubu called upon INEC officials, both regular and ad hoc, to exhibit the highest level of patriotism and professionalism, emphasizing that the Commission is impartial and has no affiliations with any political party or candidate. In a statement he personally signed, he stated, “Our responsibility is to safeguard the process and ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates.”
He highlighted that the choice of the governors for Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States rests entirely with the voters and outlined the comprehensive measures taken by INEC for the smooth conduct of the elections. These measures include the delivery of all necessary materials, configuration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and training of election-duty officials.
The INEC Chairman emphasized that the Commission is determined to ensure prompt voting, deploying officials ahead of voters, even in challenging locations. He also noted that for these off-cycle elections, INEC is deploying two National Commissioners, nine Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), and Administrative Secretaries, along with additional staff from different states, to support the process.
Prof Yakubu underscored that election is a shared responsibility involving multiple stakeholders, and lessons from past elections have informed their approach. He assured that INEC will continue to work towards free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections but emphasized the need for collective effort, stating, “INEC cannot do it alone.”
He highlighted assurances from security agencies regarding a secure environment for electoral activities and called for the maintenance of peace by all participants. Political parties and candidates have already signed a peace accord under the National Peace Committee (NPC), and Prof Yakubu urged everyone to play their roles conscientiously to uphold democracy.