By Jubril Bada

As the people of Ondo State prepare to elect a governor on Saturday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to prioritise pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities, ensuring they can cast their votes without unnecessary delays.

The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of ElectHER, Mrs Ibijoke Faborode, made this call on Friday during the #OndoDecides2024 ElectHER Pre-Election Forum in Akure, the state capital.

She highlighted the need for INEC to install clear signage at polling stations, indicating priority voting times for pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities, particularly in the morning. This measure, she explained, would reduce waiting times and accommodate women with caregiving responsibilities.

Faborode emphasised the importance of ensuring that electoral materials and staff are deployed early on election day to minimise delays and ensure polling units are ready for voters to cast their ballots promptly.

The founder also underscored the need for teams to be prepared to respond swiftly to any misinformation, particularly in community centres where women are likely to gather. She explained that promptly addressing misinformation helps mitigate its negative impact on voter turnout.

She advocated for the allocation of female electoral officers and the creation of separate lines for women, where feasible, to reduce any intimidation women might experience at polling stations.

Additionally, she called on security agencies to deploy female security officers at polling units to reassure female voters, especially those who might feel intimidated by a male-dominated security presence.

Faborode further urged the establishment and publicising of a hotline or contact number for reporting harassment or violence against women on election day.

Analysing women’s participation in the election, Faborode noted that female representation among candidates has reached a low not seen in the past three election cycles in the state.