Osun citizens will determine their next governor – INEC Chairman

By Dorcas Elusogbon

Ile-Ife (Osun), July 5, 2022

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has said that Osun citizens would determine their governor in the next gubernatorial elections that comes up on July 16, 2022.

Yakubu stated this during his team’s visit to seek Royal Fathers’ blessings from Osun Council of Obas at the Palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, in Ile-Ife, on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

The INEC Chairman expressed profound gratitude to the Royal Fathers for hosting them, saying that no gubernatorial election can take place without paying homage to them for their Royal blessings.

He added that in the last gubernatorial election in 2018, the Royal Fathers played a pivotal role in making the election successful, saying that they were there to show INEC’s readiness for the Osun governorship election.

“Registered voters should expect a credible process. We are here on need assessment and to seek the prayers of the Royal Fathers. That’s why we are here to meet the Osun State Council of Obas led by the Ooni.

“We have brought the remaining cards for distribution to registered voters, for the remaining 11 days. They should go to their local governments and wards to collect theirs,” he stated.

According to him, all measures have been put in place to ensure that Osun gubernatorial election is free, fair and credible.

“INEC Staff will work round the clock to ensure that all registrants have their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC).

“INEC will deploy their Staff to each Ward Collation Centre throughout the 332 Wards in Osun State.

“To this end, there is no Sallah break for INEC Staff as they will work even during the weekend and PVC collection will end on Thursday, 14th July, 2022,” the Chairman stressed.

Yakubu explained further that security agencies would be deployed adequately and promptly to safeguard materials such as the card readers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) among others as well as the electorates.

The INEC Chairman explained that the BIVAS machines have been deployed, configured and charged for the elections and that the same machines will transmit results from the polling units’ level immediately the process is concluded.

Yakubu urged the Royal Fathers to appeal to the politicians and the electorates to ensure good conduct and give peace a chance before, during and after the elections.

In his remarks, Oba Ogunwusi welcomed his guests to the “source of civilization” and assured them of their cooperation for the success of the election.

The Ooni admonished the INEC not to be one sided, so as to avert trouble, stressing that failure to be independent in dealing with both politicians and the electorate would result in mayhem which would discredit the nation’s democracy.

He warned the youths against political thuggery, saying politicians would look for ways to use them for destruction during this period.

“We want Osun to be peaceful for the incoming election, for the state is a barometer for general elections and all hands must be on deck to assure that it runs well.

“All Royal Fathers are open to all political gladiators, same thing with INEC; all we want is peaceful coexistence and for the election to go on smoothly,” he said.

He urged all Royal Fathers to partner with INEC since a tree cannot make a forest, insisting that all hands must be on deck for the benefit of free, fair and credible election.

The Royal Father noted that Nigerians have lost all hope that anything good can come forth again, but that with the way Prof Yakubu is handling the process, the lost Glory would be restored.