Osun poll: INEC says security personnel will take neutrality oath

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The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State has said all security personnel that will be on duty during the August 15 governorship poll in the state will take oath of neutrality.

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The INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state, Oluwatoyin Babalola, stated this in Osogbo on Wednesday while briefing journalists on the Commission’s preparation for the coming poll.

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Babalola also said series of trainings will be organised for the security personnel before the poll.

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He added that training for Supervisory Presiding Officers that will be on duty during the poll, will be held between July 31 and August 2, while training of the Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers will hold on August 9.

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“We value the importance of security in elections and you may have some security personnel that do not understand the situation. Somebody that worked in the 2023 general elections may no longer be here and you have security personnel that have never participated in an election.

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“We are having training for security personnel that will be involved in the election from the 13th to 15th of July at the state level and that of the senatorial district will come up from 17th to 19th July.

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“We need to also note that all security personnel are going to subscribe to the oath of neutrality.

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“Our training for Supervisory Presiding Officers will commence on 31st July to 2nd of August while we train Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers on 9th of August,” the REC said.

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On the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System that will be deployed for the poll, the REC said
nthe gadgets will be deployed across all 3,763 polling units in the state for voter accreditation to ensure that only registered voters with valid PVCs vote on the election day.n

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She further said, “A total of 3,763 BVAS will be deployed for the election. Additional 664 BVAS will also set aside as backups. In addition to voter Accreditation, the BVAS will be used to upload polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for enhanced transparency and for the public to have access to PU election results.

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“All the BVAS devices are already charged awaiting configuration which shall be carried out close to election. Registration Area Technical Support Staff (RATECHs) will be deployed to all RAs to offer technical assistance.”

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The REC declared that the Commission is ready to take advice and strategic recommendations, emphasising that the success of the election will be further enhanced with robust collaboration from all stakeholders, particularly, the media.

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Voters in Osun will be going to the poll on August 15 to elect a governor and the incumbent state helmsman, Ademola Adeleke, seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party, is being challenged by Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress and 11 other candidates that are also contesting the poll.

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