The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, has reiterated that elections in Nigeria are guided strictly by law, emphasising that no credible election can hold outside the legal framework.

Agboke also said every activity of the Commission must align with the law to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

The REC made the assertion when Ebunoluwa International School, led by its principal, Mr Ogedengbe, paid a courtesy visit to the INEC State Office on Wednesday in Osogbo.

Agboke stated, “Election is about law. If there is no law, election cannot be successful. Every INEC activity is about law.”

The REC while highlighting the four legal documents that guide INEC’s operations in Nigeria, described them as essential to the conduct of elections in the country.

According to him, “The four frameworks include the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is the grand norm; the Electoral Act 2022; the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022; and the Manuals for election operations.”

Agboke, who noted that the four documents remained germane to the conduct of elections, stressed that any deviation could lead to electoral challenges.

He revealed that the Commission planned to visit other schools in the state as part of its “Catch Them Young Voter” initiative aimed at building early awareness about the electoral process among young citizens.

The REC warned against attempts to compromise electoral integrity, adding that, “Anyone who wants to corrupt the electoral process will go to jail.”

Speaking on INEC’s structure, Agboke explained that the Commission has seven departments with specific roles, including the Election and Party Monitoring Department, which oversees the operations of political parties.

The Osun INEC boss disclosed that out of the 19 registered political parties in the country, 18 were active in Osun State.

He added that the Electoral Operations Department manages election logistics, recruitment and training, while the Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Inclusivity Department handles the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR.

Agboke mentioned the use of technology in the process, noting that the INEC Voter Enrollment Device, IVED, is used during registration and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, is deployed on election day.

During a separate visit by Vicinity FM, Ikeji-Ile-Ijesa, Agboke said INEC valued the role of the media in electoral activities, adding that the Commission ensures stakeholders, including media organisations, are carried along in all engagements.

He stated, “Media organisations are germane in what we do and we cannot but continue to cooperate with the media. Cooperating with media also has its own leverage because it affords them to know first-hand the activities of INEC.”

Agboke affirmed that there was no reason for INEC’s operations to be shrouded in secrecy, assuring that the Commission would continue to collaborate with the media to ensure transparency.

“We will conduct peaceful elections and ensure the people’s vote counts,” he added.

Earlier, the Vicinity FM General Manager, Akolade Ademola commended INEC for the ongoing CVR exercise.

Ademola emphasised the need for collaboration, saying, “INEC is well known and there is a need for working together in one accord. We want to be partners in progress and not be left behind.”

Elections must follow legal framework – Osun REC insists