Ondo: Anywhere INEC Stops Talking, There Will Be Room for Suspicion — Agboke
By Olusegun HOSEA, Akure
12th May, 2026.
Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ondo State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, has assured the electorate in the state that their votes would count in the forthcoming bye-election slated for 20th June, 2026, and ahead of the 2027 general election.
Agboke stated this during his courtesy visit to journalists at the Press Centre in Akure. The REC said that, “Anywhere INEC stops talking, there will be room for suspicion.” He explained that the cooperation of media practitioners in the conduct of elections could not be overemphasized.
He said, “I’m here to tell you that we are going to do this job together. The 2027 election is coming, and elections go beyond gubernatorial polls. Of course, during the governorship election, all eyes will be on the state, but beyond that, there are bigger ones still coming. Presidential elections are still ahead, including House of Representatives, Senatorial, and State House of Assembly elections. All these require all of us to work together in order to achieve success.”
Similarly, Dr. Agboke assured the people of the state that nothing would determine the winner of any election except the votes of the masses.
His words:
“My slogan is ‘Let me do it.’ Some people hate to hear it, but I don’t care. Nothing will determine the winner of any election except the votes of the masses. The vote should determine, not violence, not manipulation, not whether you know anyone or have any big man behind you. No, it is the people’s vote that should determine.”
He requested good collaboration from journalists and also enjoined the press to help spread correct information.
“The NUJ and its membership should help ensure that misinformation and disinformation are dissolved.”
He assured the press of adequate provision of information and sought continued collaboration with the media.
Agboke also talked about INEC’s basic activities ahead, such as Continuous Voter Registration.
His words:
“I also want to inform you that there are certain basic activities ahead. INEC commenced Continuous Voter Registration on the 11th of May, and across the local governments, the activities are ongoing. This opportunity is for those who have not registered before to come and register, for those who have lost their PVCs to apply for replacement, and for those whose PVCs have been defaced to also get replacements.
“For those who have relocated and are now residing in Akure, it is also an opportunity for transfer. So, we want the residents of Ondo State to know this and come out.”
He explained that the commission would also be monitoring party primaries.
“The primaries are also going to start. The commission will begin monitoring these primaries. If there are matters arising from the primaries, please let us have conversations around them for clarity. We will ensure that we follow these activities based on the guidelines.”
He commended the existing relationship among journalists from the past leadership to the present executive.
“At that time, it was a robust engagement. The confirmation of that, I’ve also seen today because I whispered to one of my staff. I said, ‘When are we going to visit the Correspondents’ Chapel?’ He called my attention and said, ‘Everyone is here.’ I asked him, ‘Are you sure?’ Until my brother introduced himself. “This is something very strange and a strength for success, unlike in other states where we have served. So, I’ll carry this experience anywhere I go. For the first time, because I’ve been saying it, why should there be disparity? Why should there be dichotomy? And I can see a reflection of my expectation in Ondo State. It’s a point of reference for me.
“I want to say that for NUJ Ondo State to have achieved this, of course, you can’t achieve anything without unity. So, Chairman, I want to thank you for this togetherness. Because if you look at the ambience of this place, I was looking at everybody’s face. I’ve been to particular centres where everybody hides. They were just sitting down asking questions. So, you are peaceful. It shows your leadership is exceptional. I want to thank you for everything.
“One way or the other, we have been interacting. But coming here today, I’m happy with all the faces I’ve seen.”
He said engagement with the media is very important.“So please, engagement with the media is a must for INEC, and I say it everywhere. Anywhere INEC stops talking, there will be room for suspicion. Anywhere INEC needs to clarify issues and keeps quiet, it means you have something to hide. I’m here to tell you I have nothing to hide. We are here to do our job.”
In his response, the Chairman of the NUJ Council, Ondo State, Leke Adegbite, thanked the REC for deeming it fit to visit members of the council. He advised the commissioner to always make relevant information available to journalists, noting that if they are not privy to any particular issue, journalists would write what they deem appropriate. He therefore appealed to him and his team to always invite members of the council to their assignments for the purpose of briefing the public about ongoing activities in the organisation.
He also appealed to the commissioner to revisit the political platform created by the commission and add others who were not initially included so that they could receive necessary information that would help them do their jobs effectively.
However, the chairman warned the commissioner against turning members of the union into copy-and-paste journalists simply because of the information they usually get from the political platform of the organisation. He said this was one of the reasons why journalists needed to be invited to assignments.
According to him, money is not everything, but service to the public is more important.He commended the commissioner for his past activities in the conduct of elections in other states and admonished him to maintain more rapport with journalists.
He explained that the best time to build friendship with journalists is during peaceful times and assured him that whenever there is a crisis, pressmen would be there for him.
He said journalists in the state are very responsive and assured him of the best journalism practice in the state. He welcomed him back to the state and wished him the best of luck.
