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Ondo 2020: INEC begins distribution of materials

By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said it has commenced the distribution of materials and training of ad-hoc staff to be used for the conduct of October 10, 2020 gubernatorial election in Ondo state.
INEC’s National Commissioner, Mr Festus Okoye who stated this while briefing media executives on the preparations for the election said distribution of sensitive materials such as ballot papers would be delivered a week to the election.
Okoye said the commission is fully prepared for the conduct of the election and is aware of the difficult terrain at the riverine area of the state and has mapped out strategies to overcome them.
He noted that INEC has developed innovations that will enable it cope with challenges associated with COVID-19 pandemic on the conduct of the election. These, he said included effective use of technology in the electoral process.
According to him, the following innovative tools were introduced with a view to reducing human impact on the electoral process; candidates nomination portal, election observers nomination portal, INEC media accreditation portal, INEC result viewing portal and electronic voting machine.
He hinted that every voter must have a nose mask or handkerchief which will enable them to vote during the election. He said:’ the commission will provide sanitiser, hand washing materials for the voters and its staff and as well observe physical distancing to ensure people are safe from contracting COVID-19 during the election.
“Prior to the pandemic, the commission maintained an electronic voter register and carried out electronic verification and accreditation of voters using the smart card readers.
With the pandemic, the commission has introduced additional measures and innovations aimed at improving the transparency of the electoral process especially in collation and transmission of election result”. He said the INEC result viewing portal when opened would be made accessible to the people to enable them have a first hand information on election result.
He added that the manual transmission of results would still be adopted for the Ondo State gubernatorial election contrary to insinuation that the commission would use electronic transmission.
In his remarks, the state Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ,Mr Adetona Aderoboye commended INEC for organising a refreshing engagement before the election, affirming that the chapter parades professionals who are conscious of their social responsibilities.
He therefore called on the commission to ensure timely release of required vital information in reporting effectively.
The Commission also had an interface with the executives of media houses in the state during the second session, where it appealed to the media to help in further sensitisation on why politicians should play the game according to the rule.

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