Osun Guber: Build On Past Records To Ensure Successful Guber Poll — INEC

Professor AbdulGaniy Olayinka Raji, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commissioner REC for Osun State has stated that the unveiling of several innovations required the enhancement of the Commission’s capacity.

Raji called on the electoral officers to build on the success recorded in the past and ensure that the 2022 Osun gubernatorial election is devoid of malpractices and human errors that could jeopardise all preparations.

While reminding the participants that INEC is always known for excellence because of its collective efforts, Prof. Raji called for the effective use of these reforms to achieve flawless elections.

The reforms included the use of the INEC Voter Enrolment Devices (IVED) for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and the use of the Bi-modal Voter Verification System (BIVAS) 

The Osun INEC REC made this known during his welcome address at a capacity building workshop for electoral and assistant electoral officers in Osogbo on Monday.

Professor Raji noted that the workshop which was organised by the Electoral Institute was proactive and as such would ensure that the Osun gubernatorial election is credible, free, fair and acceptable to all.

He added that it will ensure that all members of staff are empowered to perform their electoral duties effectively and efficiently.

According to the Osun INEC boss, "The unveiling of several innovations, namely, the INEC Voter Enrolment Devices (IVED) which was used for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and the use of the Bi-modal Voter Verification System (BIVAS) requires the enhancement of the Commission’s capacity to use these reforms effectively to achieve flawless elections.

"I am particularly delighted that, The Electoral Institute (TEI) is proactive enough to organize this workshop, in the series of workshops to ensure that the Osun Gubernatorial Election is credible, free, fair and acceptable by all and more so to ensure that all members of staff are empowered to perform their electoral duties effectively and efficiently.

"More importantly as we navigate a critical bend in the Commission’s preparations for Osun Stand alone election come 16th July, which is usually a precedent to General Elections, this training event is indeed adjudged timely.

"Moreover, as Officers at the forefront of the Commission’s engagement with ad-hoc personnel and stakeholders, this workshop will no doubt serve as a tool to sharpen your diverse competencies in the task of cascading this training to the would-be Election personnel at the Local Government Level."

The Osun INEC REC who expressed delight in the workshop noted that given the calibre of competent staff in INEC Osun said he is hopeful that the outcome of the workshop will not only benefit and enhance the Commission’s effectiveness and efficiency in the electoral processes but ultimately help Osun INEC deliver free, fair, credible, inclusive and acceptable Governorship Election in July.

Raji who tasked the participants to make good use of this training to unlearn the outdated strategies, learn all new innovations and relearn old but relevant tactics added that all these would not only help in training other permanent and ad-hoc personnel to be used for the election but also equip them for the electoral assignment.