TheCable

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured the people of Ekiti that their votes would count on Saturday.

He said this at a stakeholders meeting on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

The meeting had in attendance some of the governorship candidates of Saturday election and their party officials.

According to NAN, Yakubu said the commission had trained all the ad hoc staff required for the election and had made adequate arrangements for the delivery of personnel and materials to all polling units.

“I wish to assure you that the choice of who becomes the next governor of Ekiti state is strictly in the hands of Ekiti people,” he said.

“Please, take my words; your votes will count, only the choice made by the Ekiti people will determine the outcome of the election.

“We have listened to the views and concerns expressed by different political parties and their campaign organisations. Please note that the commission would not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate.

“Be assured that no election material will be tampered with; if anything, we have introduced additional safeguard measures of transparency to protect the integrity of our manual and electronic processes as well as procedures.”

He added that three national commissioners and five resident electoral commissioners had been deployed in the state.

Also speaking at the event, Ibrahim Idris, the inspector general of police, said the force had put in place adequate security measures to tackle those who may want to disrupt the exercise.

Idris said a security cordon was in place to check intrusion from the neigbouring states of Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Oyo and Kwara, warning that anyone caught fomenting trouble in any part of the state would be made to face the consequences no matter how highly placed.

He also warned politicians and their followers against attempting to bribe any of the police officers on election duty, saying adequate arrangements had been made for their welfare.

“Don’t arm your thugs, don’t wear party insignia to voting venues, don’t blow siren, don’t ignore restriction order on human and vehicular movements, don’t bribe any policeman,” he said.

“Don’t attempt to steal votes or manipulate the process. Whoever that does any of these will be made to face the consequences.”