Ondo election: PDP kicks as INEC plans to deploy Z-pad technology to transmit results from Polling Units

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that it would remain professional and neutral in the Ondo State Governorship election and that only the electorate would determine who wins the election.

The commission also said that the Z-pad used in Edo for the transmission of Polling Units (PUs) results to the commission result view portal would be deployed to Ondo State.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this during an interaction with the media in Akure on Thursday also said the sensitive materials for the governorship election will arrive Akure on Oct. 5.

Yakubu said that the non-sensitive materials for the election had been delivered.

“We have delivered all, but a few of the non-sensitive materials required for the elections. What remains can be accomplished within the days remaining to the polling.

“It is exactly 16 days to the election. If we exclude the election day, which is Oct 10, we have 15 days. So, we have two weeks and a day to the election.

“The sensitive materials for the election are ready. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will deliver them to their branch here in Akure on Monday, October 5,’’ Yakubu said.

He said that the commission had moved enough card readers to Ondo State for the conduct of the election, adding that they were being configured and charged in Akure.

“As we speak, we are moving the z-pads from our state office in Benin City to Akure. The z-pads will arrive in Akure this afternoon (Thursday).

“So, we will deploy the same technology to upload results, real time, from all the 3, 009 polling units, all the 203 Wards and the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo state,’’ Yakubu said.

The chairman urged the media organisations to sensitise electorate to the need for peaceful election, voters turnout and adherence to the COVID-19 protocols.

Yakubu expressed worry over incidents of violence involving supporters of some of the political parties in the state.

On awareness, he said that INEC had produced many voter education materials for the print and electronic media to educate the voters to turn out en mass to vote.

“No effort is too small and no effort is too much to continue to engage and educate and inform the voters.

“That is why the commission has always appreciated the partnership with the media and would like to strengthen it

“Learning from the experience in Edo State, we should continue to emphasise the message of peaceful election.

“The importance of obeying health instructions in the era of COVID-19. No face mask, no voting; orderly queue in the polling units, including the observance of social distancing.

“Every eligible voter, who is on the queue before 2.30 p.m. will be allowed to vote even if voting goes beyond 2.30 p.m. No one will be disenfranchised.

“Expose vote buyers during the election. There are still some people who would attempt to compromise the integrity of the process, where that happens, please help us to expose them. We will be very grateful if you do so.

“As journalists, we are not only reporters, but citizens with responsibilities.

“Kindly report to the commission using our social media platforms, any malpractice you witness early enough so that we can respond immediately as the election is going.

“Ahead of the governorship election on Oct.10, there may be some observations you have for us to improve our communication and outreach on voter education.

“I am aware the office here in Ondo State is already doing a lot but we need to do a lot more,’’ Yakubu said.

Yakubu disclosed that the National Peace Committee chaired by the former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalm Abubakar would also be organising signing of peace accord in Ondo state as it did in Edo.

He said the peace accord will take place on Oct. 6 in Akure, while INEC regular stakeholders meeting with the political parties and their candidates will hold on Oct. 5.

Yakubu said that out of the 14 activities scheduled for Ondo State governorship election, 12 had been accomplished remaining submission of the list of polling agents or political parties and the conduct of the election.

Ondo: We don’t trust your Zpad technology, PDP tells INEC

OBIORA IFOH, Abuja

The PDP National Campaign Council for Ondo Governorship election has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to compromise the credibility of the coming October 10, 2020 Ondo Governorship election with the contemplation of using the unreliable Zpad technology in voter accreditation process.

In a statement on Thursday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said, “Our campaign recalls that the Zpad technology had failed during a test-run deployment for voter accreditation in Nasarawa bye-election; a situation that informed its rejection by INEC for voter accreditation in the September 19 Edo state governorship election, where it was only used to assist in direct uploading of results to INEC’s virtual portal.

“We therefore urge INEC to limit the Zpad technology to the purpose for which it has helped the commission to attain integrity as witnessed in the Edo governorship election.

“Our campaign also charges INEC to discountenance the blackmail by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the replacement of the over 5000 card readers that were burnt by APC agents to frustrate the conduct of a credible governorship election in Ondo state.

“We also call on INEC to note that the APC is bent on its plots to frustrate the commission’s efforts following clear indications that there is no way its candidate, the failed Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, can win in a free, fair and credible election.

“The PDP campaign, standing with the people of Ondo state, demands that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, personally oversights the processes of recruitment of state polling officers

“Our demand is predicated on information available to us that INEC officials detailed to handle the process are about being compromised by the APC to engage their members as INEC adhoc staff with a view to using them to rig the election.

“For us in the PDP campaign, the irreducible minimum standard of the integrity for the Ondo election is to adapt the achievement attained by the commission in the September 19 Edo state governorship election.

“We want to inform INEC and all stakeholders that we will follow every process in the Ondo election to ensure that the Ondo people are not robbed of their legitimate votes at any level of the electoral process

“Moreover, our campaign restates our party’s demand that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, his self-confessed militant and thug, Issac kekemeke and other APC agents of violence should be invited by INEC and security agencies and cautioned to desist from acts of violence like the one recently perpetrated by them in Oba-Akoko, where our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, was almost assassinated, but for the intervention of the people.

“It is instructive to note that after spending four years in a self-serving administration, Governor Akeredolu has nothing to offer the people of Ondo state except a campaign of violence and divisive tendencies.

“Governor Akeredolu, in his self-serving administration cannot point to any developmental project that he has contributed to Ondo outside violence, entrenchment of corruption and enrichment of his cronies, relations and their cohorts with resources meant for the wellbeing of the people of Ondo.

“The PDP campaign therefore appreciates the overwhelming support accorded to our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, across the length and breadth of Ondo state which signposts the end of the misrule of Governor Akeredolu and the APC in the state.