The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), an election monitoring group, says adequate preparation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) impacted the successful conduct of the governorship election in Ondo State.
The board chairperson of KDI, Abiola Afolabi, stated this on Saturday in Akure after the assessment of the election.
“Our field observers reported significant early arrival of election materials at the polling units, indicating the well-preparedness of INEC on logistical movement.
“We commend the relative professionalism and adequacy of policing in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
“We noted that the election process has been largely peaceful, with no major incidents leading to a breakdown of law and order in the early hours,” he said.
Mr Afolabi acknowledged that while poll workers arrived in many polling units early, there were isolated cases of late commencement of polls at certain locations.
“Of the 275 reports received from the field, 33.09 per cent indicated late commencement.
“Observations indicate that election officials arrived at polling stations between 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., while voting commenced in those locations of the 33 per cent reported, between 8:45 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.,” he said.
Mr Afolabi added that KDI observed that the enforcement of restrictions of movement and roadblocks by security personnel was handled professionally.
He said the security personnel seamlessly allowed the movement of essential workers in most local government areas.
Mr Afolabi said the Bimodal Voters Accreditation Systems (BVAS) functioned very well in the election, adding that the pockets of incidence reported were quickly resolved making voting to hold peacefully.
According to him, the KDI’s Election Day Data Room received 20 reports of incidents of violence, among which were only those in Polling Unit 3 and Ward 5 in Idanre Local Government, which led to disruption at the polling units.
(NAN)
