By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage– The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, has assured voters and stakeholders that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is fully prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible governorship election in the state.
Speaking with journalists ahead of the poll, Omoseyindemi said the commission had concluded all necessary preparations, describing election management as a continuous process that had been underway since the last electoral cycle.
According to him, non-sensitive materials had been distributed well in advance, while sensitive materials were collected from the Central Bank and deployed to local government areas.
“We have made the necessary arrangements. Election is a cycle and we have been preparing for the past four years. What is happening now is the climax of the entire process,” he said.
The REC disclosed that Registration Area Centres (RACs) would be activated ahead of the election, with supervisory presiding officers, presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and technical personnel expected to report for duty before deployment to polling units.
He said INEC planned to have polling units fully set up by 8 a.m. to enable voting to commence by 8:30 a.m.
On manpower deployment, Omoseyindemi noted that the commission would engage thousands of ad hoc staff across the state’s 2,445 polling units, in addition to officials stationed at local government offices and the state headquarters.
Addressing security concerns, the REC said INEC had maintained close collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure a peaceful and orderly exercise.
“We are well prepared. We have been having regular meetings with security agencies and strategies have been mapped out to secure the electoral process,” he stated.
Omoseyindemi also expressed concern over the growing challenge of vote-buying, stressing the need for sustained voter education and attitudinal change among the electorate.
“People must change their mindset about the electoral process. They must not see election periods as opportunities for immediate personal gain. Until there is proper civic education, incidents of vote-buying may continue,” he said.
He explained that the responsibility for investigating and prosecuting vote-buying offences rests with agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The REC urged citizens to trust the electoral process, insisting that INEC remained committed to transparency and credibility.
Asked about the biggest challenge confronting the commission ahead of the election, Omoseyindemi identified fake news and misinformation as major threats.
“The deepest challenge is fake news. False reports create panic and unnecessary fear among the electorate. Sometimes stories are published without verification, giving the impression that insecurity is widespread when that is not the case,” he said.
He cited instances where reports of kidnapping and violence were exaggerated or misrepresented, noting that such narratives could discourage voter participation and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Despite these concerns, the REC commended political parties in the state for conducting their campaigns peacefully.
“So far, political parties have been behaving responsibly. We have not recorded incidents of fighting or thuggery throughout the campaign period,” he said.
On logistics, Omoseyindemi said INEC had introduced several measures to improve election-day operations compared to previous elections.
According to him, the commission undertook extensive mapping of transportation requirements, identifying locations where motorcycles, tricycles and other means of transportation would be required to reach difficult terrains.
He revealed that transport providers were required to submit detailed information on vehicles and drivers, including registration numbers and contact details, while the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police and the Department of State Services (DSS) were involved in screening vehicles and personnel.
The REC added that arrangements had been made to ensure transport operators and drivers received timely payments to avoid disruptions on election day.
“We have mapped out the logistics properly, verified the vehicles, engaged transport unions and ensured that operators are adequately compensated. We are good to go,” he said.
Omoseyindemi reiterated INEC’s readiness to deliver a successful election, expressing confidence that the preparations put in place would guarantee smooth deployment of personnel and materials across the state.
