“People of Ondo Should Not Lose Faith; Your Votes Will Count” – INEC Assures Electorate

As the Ondo State governorship election approaches, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reassured the electorate that their votes will count in the November 16 poll. The commission is determined to prevent voter apathy and ensure a free and fair election process in which 17 political parties will compete.

Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, provided this assurance during a meeting with members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Akure, the state capital, on Monday. She emphasized that INEC is working diligently to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and that every vote cast will be accurately counted.

“People of Ondo State should not lose faith. We are committed to delivering the best possible election by working with security agencies to reduce violence and ensure the smooth opening of all polling units,” said Ms. Babalola. She highlighted the high turnout during the voters’ registration exercise as a positive sign of the electorate’s eagerness to participate.

Babalola further assured the public that INEC would deploy the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and the result viewing portal (IREV) to enhance transparency, noting that these systems would function effectively throughout the election process.

“We will utilize BVAS and IREV to ensure that votes count. We are confident that Ondo voters can trust the process, and we are committed to giving them the best election experience,” she added.

The REC also pledged that INEC would maintain transparency and keep the media fully informed throughout the election period.

In response, NUJ Chairman Leke Adegbite commended the REC for her visit and pledged that the media would provide extensive coverage of the election. He also urged INEC to ensure a violence-free election where voters’ choices are respected and politicians abide by the rules.