Daniel Agbolade, Ibadan

Oyo state chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), has commended the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mutiu Agboke, over what it described as successful conduct of the general elections.

It said it deemed it fit to honour the electoral umpire and particularly, the REC for meeting the demands placed before him during an earlier visit about three weeks before the election.

The state NAWOJ Chairperson, Mrs. Jadesola Ajibola, who led other executive members to the commission's Agodi office, said the award is to commend and encourage the commission on its efforts at achieving a successful election.

She said, “We were here about three weeks before the election and made some demands. We demanded that the election should be free, fair, credible and transparent, we got that.

“We demanded that all the parties should be given a level playing ground, we got that. We also demanded that all stakeholders be carried along in the commission's efforts at conducting the election. We got that too.

“The REC, with the support of the management team were never tired of giving information anytime we knock on their doors. We followed their actions and monitored all their efforts from the pre-election to the announcement of the result and we saw the transparency and that the people's votes counted and that is why we agreed that we should commend the Commission and REC in Oyo state.”

The REC while receiving the letter of commendation and a plaque, said he was shocked that efforts of the commission were been appreciated and recognised by journalists.

Agboke noted that, although, he didn't do anything spectacular other than aligning with the electoral guidelines as stipulated by the national headquarters of the commission, he said he feels proud that members of the management team in the state also shared his passion of doing what is expected of them.

He said, “We have a guideline and there are provisions for everything and anything we have to do as a commission. All we did was just to follow them to the letter. I was shocked at the kind of response we have been getting since after the election because we have been largely commended and we are proud of it.

“Although the result is there for all to see, I can assure you that no member of INEC in this state can ever be found culpable of any electoral crime or did anything untowards to achieve the result.

“We know people were watching and listening to us before the election, but we never knew people didn't believe us when we promised that their votes would count, until they saw the outcome and said they just believed.

“Our people need to know that, with the new INEC, the era of election rigging and manipulations are over and even the political parties and other stakeholders must also know that and begin to live by it.”