INEC, start preparing for Ondo election now

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should start preparing hard for the Ondo State governorship election which is coming up in November. The electoral body, last week, postponed the Edo State election by two weeks due to the influence of security agencies. I hope that both INEC and security agencies will start preparing for the gubernatorial election in the Sunshine state so that it won’t also be postponed like that of Edo.

Ondo State people are ready to exercise their constitutional rights by electing another chief executive in November, and we don’t want a situation whereby unsubstantiated claims will be given in order for it to be postponed. Therefore, whatever INEC and the security agencies want to do should be done now before the election date draws near.

I also hope that INEC will quickly complete all inconclusive elections in parts of the country, particularly those in Rivers State. The electoral body should liaise with security agencies to provide enabling environment for the elections to hold.

Finally, there is the need for security agencies to have special training on providing security during election periods. This will enable officers to know how to tackle incidences of thuggery or electoral violence without affecting the conduct of such elections. For example, in the case of Edo, well trained security operatives would have been able to neutralise the plans of electoral violence perpetrators.

• Olufemi Alabi,

Akure, Ondo State.