The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has highlighted the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, as well as several pending bye-elections, as immediate priorities requiring unwavering readiness from the electoral body.
Yakubu made these remarks during an induction retreat for newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Lagos on Monday, according to reports from The PUNCH.
The retreat served not only to induct the new appointees but also to review and enhance INEC's operational capabilities.
The INEC chairman emphasized the significance of the upcoming elections, noting that the Edo gubernatorial poll is scheduled within the next 81 days, while the Ondo election is set to take place in 137 days.
Additionally, he mentioned five pending bye-elections for various federal and state constituencies across the country.
Looking ahead, Yakubu reminded the participants of four major elections scheduled before the next general election in 2027, including the Anambra gubernatorial poll next year, followed by the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in 2026, as well as the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
The INEC chairman stressed the importance of training and equipping the new RECs with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle these responsibilities effectively.
He emphasized the need to focus on familiarizing themselves with INEC's processes and procedures, as well as leveraging the veteran RECs' field experience to mitigate recurring challenges in areas such as pre-election and post-election litigation, operational logistics, voter education, strategic communication, and inclusivity in the electoral process.