pmnewsnigeria - National Chairman of the Independent National
Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday said all was set for the Osun
gubernatorial election slated for Saturday.
Jega announced this at a stakeholders’ forum
organised by the commission ahead of the poll in Osogbo. “We have
prepared adequately and meticulously to ensure that the election is
free, fair and credible.
“We have paid a lot of attention to the
training of our staff and ad hoc staff to use and we will protect
members of the National Youth Service Corps we normally use.
“We have put measures in place to protect lives and property and to ensure that voters exercise their franchise in a peaceful environment,” he said.
The
INEC chairman said the commission would ensure that ballot papers for
the election had been serially printed to ensure they were not in
another state.
According to him, INEC has also customised result
sheets at every polling unit so that no politician can use them to
produce unauthorised results.
Other initiatives of the commission
included the colour coding of ballot papers from one council to another
so that it would not be transferable in the council areas.
He
noted that sensitive materials, including ballot papers were ready for
distribution to local governments’ councils with colour coding.
“In
every polling unit, there will be a cubicle where voters can vote
secretly. The constitution says the secrecy of the ballot paper must be
protected,” he said.
Jega reassured stakeholders of the
commission’s commitment to free, fair and credible election not only in
Osun but in the 2015 general elections.
He
said people, including traditional rulers, should promote peaceful
conduct and refrain from violence as security agents were fully prepared
to deal with miscreants.
According to him, accreditation will begin from 8:00 a.m. to noon, while voting will commence at 12:30 a.m
“Accredited
voters are to join the queue and the voting exercise will not end until
the last voter on queue is attended to, voting will then take place
simultaneously to prevent multiple voting.”
Jega, who advised the
electorate not to do anything that would make them fall victim of
electoral offences, vowed that the commission would be just, neutral,
not partisan and impartial.
“Our hope is to make sure that Osun
election is the best poll so far conducted and everyone should come out
to perform their civic duty peacefully,” he added.
Suleiman Abba, the acting Inspector-General of Police, said that security agencies were concerned with the security of voters, INEC staff and election materials.
Abba
said the police would protect the integrity of the election and ensure
that the election met the requirement of democratic principles and international best practices.
He, however, warned sponsors of thugs to beware because law enforcement officers were not only on land but in the air that day.
Abba,
however, assured law abiding citizens of police protection, saying
every voter should feel free and secured to cast their votes on
Saturday.
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