Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Prof Mahmood Yakubu has advocated early security preparation for the off cycle governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
According to a post on the X handle of INEC, Yakubu, who spoke at the first quarterly meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security paid tribute to the security agencies for the role they played during the 2020 governorship elections in the two States which he attributed to early planning.
The meeting paid tribute to the officers and men of the Nigerian Army who died while on a peace mission in Otuama community of Delta State.
“There were no security incidents, materials were delivered promptly, logistics deployed smoothly, Polling Units opened on time, voters attended to efficiently and results collated and announced transparently.
“Let us replicate the successful conduct of the last Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. In fact, working together, we should ensure that the 2024 Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States are an improvement on the success story of 2020.
The INEC boss said “It is important to start security preparations very early. In particular, the number of personnel and other assets to be deployed to strategic locations should be determined and mobilised early enough.
“It was this proactive approach that led to the successful conduct of the last Governorship election in Edo State on 19th September 2020 and in Ondo State on 10th October 2020.
“In the next few months, there will be further engagements with the security agencies and other members of ICCES at both national and State levels. We look forward to your plans to secure the environment without which INEC cannot successfully conduct elections.”
