By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Yiaga Africa, a prominent election monitoring group, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold its credibility during Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

The organization also urged security agencies to perform their duties impartially and without bias towards any political party.

Speaking in Akure, Chairman for the 2024 Ondo Election Mission, Yiaga Africa, Ezenwa Nwagwu, stressed the importance of early arrival of election materials at polling units. “We urge INEC to enhance coordination and communication with the transport companies and unions that provide logistics support,” Nwagwu stated. “It is essential to ensure timely delivery of materials to the Registration Area Centers (RACs) and facilitate early deployment of materials and personnel to polling units on election day. This approach will help address the issue of late commencement of polls observed in previous elections.”

Nwagwu also called on security agencies to take strict measures against vote-buying and other electoral misconduct, urging them to arrest and prosecute offenders to deter further malpractice. “We encourage security agencies to strictly enforce laws against voter inducement, vote-buying, ballot box snatching, and other electoral offenses,” he said. “Arrest and prosecute individuals and groups engaged in illegal activities.”

Condemning recent violent attacks in parts of the Northern senatorial district and Idanre local government area, Yiaga Africa advised the public to vote peacefully, reject any form of inducement, and exercise their right without fear.