The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is fully ready to make the governorship election in Osun a “role model” for the 2019 polls.
Olusegun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state said this during a press conference at the INEC headquarters in Osogbo.
Agbaje said the commission would run simultaneous accreditation and voting between 8am and 2pm on Saturday of the Osun election.
He, however, refuted the ban on use of mobile phones and cameras on election day at the polling unit.
He said: “What INEC said is that voters should not carry their phones or other camera devices to the voting cubicles where the voter will mark the ballot, to safeguard the secrecy of the ballot.”
He also added that the commission has no plans to give uncollected PVCs to any political party as being speculated.
“Let me therefore reiterate for the umpteenth time that INEC will exhibit the highest level of transparency, integrity and impartiality while availing all the 48 political parties that have nominated candidates equal opportunity to participate in a level playing field during the Osun State governorship election,” he said.
He urged journalists covering the election to be credible in their reportage, noting the commission would be free and fair in the discharge of its duty.
Agbaje also warned politicians and political parties participating in the election against inducing voters with money.
According to Agbaje, the commission has perfected plans with security agencies to deal decisively with any one engaging in the notorious act of “see and buy”.
He also noted that INEC is fully ready to make the Saturday Osun gubernatorial election a “role model” for other elections in 2019.
He said a total of 1,682,495 were registered as eligible voters in Osun State, stating that all the card readers deployed for the poll had already been configured.
16,000 ad hoc staff have been deployed for the smooth conduct of the election and sensitive materials deployed for the election are being tracked to their respective destinations in the 30 LGAs.
He said: “Let me use this opportunity once again to reassure the people of Osun state, other Nigerians and the international community that INEC is more than even before determined to conduct a free, fair, credible and acceptable election that will meet the aspirations of all and sundry.”
