The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has reiterated the commission’s neutrality and emphasized that INEC has no preferred candidate in the governorship elections scheduled for Saturday in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States.
In a message on Friday, Yakubu reminded INEC staff members of the commission’s role as a non-partisan entity and urged them not to interfere in the elections. He stressed the importance of allowing voters to make their choices freely.
Yakubu highlighted that 5,169,692 Nigerians who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) are expected to participate in the elections. This marks the first time in the country’s history that these elections are held simultaneously across three geopolitical zones.
The INEC Chairman called on both regular and ad-hoc officials to demonstrate patriotism and professionalism during the elections. He emphasized the commission’s commitment to ensuring a level playing field for all political parties and candidates.
Yakubu provided assurance that polling unit results would be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, and measures were in place to address challenges in difficult terrains and physical infrastructure, ensuring that officials are ready for voting on schedule.
