The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has announced that the results of the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi will be uploaded on the commission’s Result Viewing Portal, known as IReV.
Mr Yakubu made this statement while addressing journalists at Ward 009, LEA School, Ganaja Village, Ajaokuta LGA, Kogi State. He was in the state to oversee a mock accreditation exercise in preparation for the November 11 governorship election.
The INEC chairman emphasized that the commission would strictly follow the legal procedures for accreditation and results collation during the elections in these states.
“The method, as provided by law, includes electronic accreditation and the electronic upload of results on the IReV portal. That is why we are conducting this mock exercise,” Mr Yakubu explained.
He urged citizens who are registered on the IReV portal to check for the mock accreditation results from all three states within the next two hours.
Additionally, Mr Yakubu reassured the public of adequate security measures being put in place ahead of the elections. He disclosed plans for a high-level meeting in Abuja, which will be attended by himself and the National Security Adviser, to discuss security concerns with the top security chiefs.
Regarding the issue of managing crowds on Election Day at PU 009 in Ganaja, Mr Yakubu revealed that INEC was taking proactive measures to ensure a pleasant voting experience for all. The polling unit has the highest number of registered voters in Nigeria, with approximately 13,000 registered voters.
As part of the preparations, the voter register will be arranged alphabetically by surnames to expedite the voting process. Mr Yakubu noted that after the elections, the commission would redistribute the voters to other polling units to prevent overcrowding in the future.
Addressing the challenges posed by flooding at PU 009, Mr Yakubu disclosed that INEC had identified an alternative RAC (Registration Area Center) – Family Support Programme (FSP) Nursery, Primary, and UBE JSS, Gadumo-Lokoja – to be used in case of flooding on election day. He assured stakeholders that the commission would do everything possible to ensure a smooth electoral process.
After his visit to Ganaja, Mr Yakubu held a meeting with INEC staff at the state headquarters in Lokoja. The purpose of the meeting was to assess the state’s preparedness for the November 11 election and to address any outstanding issues. Similar visits will also be conducted in Imo and Bayelsa states.
Mr Yakubu expressed satisfaction with the commission’s delivery of non-sensitive election materials and urged the state-level staff to efficiently organize and prepare for the polls. He also commended the progress made in Koton-Karfi, Kogi State, where materials had been properly batched into bags.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kogi State, Gabriel Longpet, confirmed the receipt of 60% of the election budget and stated that funds had been disbursed to the local government areas. However, he appealed to the Central Bank to facilitate direct cash transfer to avoid transportation delays and problems with RAC activation.
Mr Longpet also mentioned that potential flashpoints had been identified, and security deployment plans were being developed based on these areas.
The INEC chairman’s visit to Kogi State is part of the commission’s commitment to ensuring a transparent, efficient, and secure electoral process in the upcoming governorship elections.
NAN