As Ondo State gears up for this month’s off-cycle governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faces the critical task of restoring public trust in the electoral process.
Development Diaries reports that the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, has assured that the commission is ready to ensure early arrival of election materials and officials.
Despite this assurance, citizens are not fully confident of the commission’s commitment to a smooth electoral process.
Repeated delays, logistical challenges, and transparency issues have plagued past elections, the last being the Edo State election, dampening citizens’ confidence in their votes being accurately counted and their voices being genuinely represented.
For this upcoming election, INEC’s pledge to ensure the early arrival of materials and officials is essential not just for operational efficiency but as a first step towards rekindling faith in democratic processes.
Ensuring that polls open on time and that systems are functional and transparent will send a powerful message to Nigerians that INEC is committed to running a smooth, credible election.
A major factor that has historically undermined trust in INEC is the inconsistency in its management of election day operations.
For instance, the recently concluded Edo State governorship election was marred by issues such as vote buying, polling unit disruptions, and questionable results in certain local government areas, as highlighted by Yiaga Africa.
These shortcomings, compounded by delays in uploading accurate results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, cast doubt on the fairness of the process and also reveal systemic weaknesses that require immediate attention.
For the Ondo election, INEC’s use of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) for both accreditation and result uploads must be executed seamlessly to assure voters that the results reflect their actual choices.
Ultimately, if INEC can deliver a well-organised and transparent election, it will be a significant step toward mending the frayed relationship between Nigerian citizens and the electoral system.
However, this can only be achieved if INEC rises to the challenge of running an impeccable process while citizens hold both INEC and the candidates to account.
Also, beyond INEC’s efforts, citizens have a role to play in demanding accountability and transparency from both the candidates and the electoral body.
Citizens must understand that it is important to elect officials who prioritise the people’s welfare over personal or partisan interests.
Development Diaries calls on INEC to ensure it delivers a credible, disruption-free election in Ondo State to bolster citizens’ faith in democratic institutions and encourage them to participate more actively in governance.
We also urge voters in Ondo State to set high expectations for all candidates, insisting on clear policy commitments that address pressing local issues, from economic development to public safety.
