The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the names of party agents for the upcoming Ondo State Governorship election, following the closure of the portal for the submission of agents by political parties. This information was revealed in a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, on Friday.
According to Olumekun, the portal, which opened on August 20, 2024, was designed to automatically close at midnight on Monday, September 30, 2024, as outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, which was released almost a year ago in September 2023.
Ondo State has a total of 3,933 polling units and 222 collation centers, which include 203 ward collation centers, 18 Local Government collation centers, and the State collation center located in Akure, the state capital. Each political party fielding candidates in the election was expected to nominate 4,155 agents to cover these polling and collation units. With 18 political parties participating in the election, INEC anticipated a cumulative total of 74,790 agents.
However, the commission noted a significant shortfall in the number of agents submitted. A total of 24,148 agents were uploaded to the portal, consisting of 22,689 polling agents, 1,249 ward collation agents, 196 Local Government collation agents, and 14 State collation agents. This represents only 32.3% of the expected number of agents from all political parties combined.
Even more concerning is that three political parties failed to submit any agents at all, either at the polling units or the collation centers. INEC expressed its disappointment over the low submission rate, especially given the importance of polling and collation agents in ensuring transparency and accountability during the electoral process.
A detailed breakdown of the submissions has been made available on INEC’s official website and social media platforms for public scrutiny. The commission urges political parties to ensure that their agents are well-prepared and trained for the critical roles they will play during the election.
Polling and collation agents are essential in ensuring the integrity of elections, acting as the eyes and ears of political parties throughout the voting process. They monitor proceedings at polling units, ensure votes are accurately counted, and oversee the collation of results at ward, Local Government, and State levels. Without adequate representation, political parties may face challenges in verifying the legitimacy of the electoral process, making the absence of agents particularly worrisome.
With the Ondo State Governorship election fast approaching, the low submission of agents raises concerns about the preparedness of some political parties. Given that three parties failed to submit any agents, questions have been raised about their commitment to fully participate in the electoral process. This situation may have broader implications for the conduct of the election, as political parties rely on these agents to safeguard their interests and ensure that their votes are accurately counted.
As the election date draws nearer, INEC has reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and transparent election. The commission also emphasized that all submitted agents must strictly adhere to the electoral guidelines and maintain professionalism throughout the election.
