In line with the provision of Section 72, (sub section 1) of the Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued certificate of return to the winner of the Osun state governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Supervisory National Commissioner of last Saturday’s election Prof Kunle Ajayi who Wednesday, said the successful conduct of the Osun election has become the standard of elections management in Nigeria.
Ajayi said INEC is consistent in achieving its vision as one of the best election management bodies in the world and acting on our core values of; independence, impartiality, neutrality and transparency.
He reiterated that “the introduction of innovative technologies and processes such as the use of; Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV), Election Risk Management (ERM) tools, Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) for Registration Area Centres (RAC), Root Training for Corpers etc. has significantly geared INEC towards delivering seamless voter experiences to the electorates.”
Ajayi who described the Osun governorship election as the most anticipated election of the year, noted that it was not just because it was the last major off-cycle election before the 2023 general election, but the first major election after the highly rated Ekiti governorship elections viewed by Nigerians with a note of caution.
While commending the people of Osun on the peaceful way and manner they conducted themselves during the election, he stated that “the voter turn-out was large and there was no major electoral violence incidence recorded.”
Ajayi stated: “Indeed, the election was perhaps the most anticipated election of the year, not just because it was the last major off-cycle election before the 2023 general election, but also, it was the first major election after the highly rated Ekiti governorship elections, which was viewed by Nigerians with a note of caution.
“However, with the successful conduct of the Osun state governorship election, the Commission would like to assure Nigerians that this has become the standard of election management in Nigeria.
“On the part of INEC, as an electoral umpire, under the leadership of the Hon. Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, we are consistent in achieving our vision to become one of the best election management bodies in the world and acting on our core values of; independence, impartiality, neutrality and transparency.
“Furthermore, the introduction of innovative technologies and processes such as the use of; Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV), Election Risk Management (ERM) tools, Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) for Registration Area Camp (RAC’)s, Root Training for Corpers etc. has significantly geared INEC towards delivering seamless voter experiences to the electorates.”