By Ado Oyeyemi
The Independent National Electoral Commission has called on security agencies in Ondo State to strengthen the protection of its personnel and electoral materials ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Mutiu Agboke, made the appeal on Thursday in Akure during the Ondo Central Senatorial District stakeholders’ meeting organised as part of preparations for the polls.
Agboke said INEC was committed to conducting credible elections, adding that the commission had begun centralising its voter education and sensitisation efforts across the three senatorial districts to ensure wider public participation.
He said the collection of Permanent Voter Cards would commence on October 9, describing it and other ongoing preparations as critical activities ahead of the election.
The REC, however, expressed concern over complaints about inadequate security presence at polling units and collation centres during previous elections.
Agboke urged the security agencies to prepare adequately for the challenges expected on election day and ensure that INEC officials and electoral materials were protected throughout the process.
He said, “One of the complaints the commission usually receives is the absence of security personnel at polling units and collation centres.
“We are appealing to our security agencies that they should rise up and live up to the various challenges that are waiting for us on election day.
“We sought for their cooperation and we are appealing to them on the need for both our men and materials to be well secured.”
The REC also warned politicians, voters and their supporters against vote-buying and thuggery, saying the 2027 elections must not be undermined by financial inducement or violence.
Agboke stressed that the outcome of the election would be determined by the votes cast by the electorate, urging stakeholders to avoid actions capable of compromising the electoral process.
The lawmaker representing Akure South Constituency 2 in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Stephen Abitogun, commended INEC for its voter education efforts and called for stronger measures against political thuggery and vote-buying.
Abitogun urged politicians to recognise elections as an avenue for public service rather than personal enrichment, while calling on stakeholders to intensify voter education ahead of the polls.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Social Democratic Party in Akure South Local Government Area, Olayemi Olajide, commended INEC’s campaign against vote-buying, arguing that elections should not be treated as a business transaction.
Olajide said political parties and community leaders had a responsibility to discourage violence and vote-buying, stressing that elections were a call to service and not a war.
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Representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Department of State Services and Nigeria Immigration Service attended the meeting and reaffirmed their commitment to providing adequate security before, during and after the 2027 elections.
