Edo election: Violators will face consequences, INEC chairman says
- INEC has vowed to punish electoral violators during the forthcoming election in Edo state
- According to INEC, crimes such as vote-buying, ballot box snatching will not be overlooked
- The electoral umpire insisted that the people of Edo must be allowed to vote
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The national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has warned that electoral violators would face the consequences of their actions, if caught during the September 19, Edo governorship election.
Yakubu gave the warning during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting organised by INEC in Benin.
He listed some of the infractions to include vote-buying, ballot box snatching and stuffing, multiple voting, hijacking and diversion of election materials among others.
“Edo people must be allowed to freely vote for their preferred candidate without inducement or harassment.
“We have been assured by the security agencies that thugs and their sponsors will not have the freedom to move around freely to disrupt the election or collation of results.’’
Yakubu also disclosed that the national headquarters of INEC would monitor the election throughout the state through a zoom situation room.
“This zoom situation room will allow us receive live reports from the field. Accredited observers and the media will also be invited to join at intervals.
“By doing so, the commission will receive first-hand information as the election is going on.’’
The INEC boss, however, reassured Edo people that their votes would count adding that only the choice made by the people of Edo would determine the outcome of the election.
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Yakubu explained that the commission would not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate.
According to him, our focus is on our processes and procedures, nothing more, but be assured that Saturday’s election will be credible.
Yakubu further stated that the commission would be deploying magnifying glasses and Braille ballot guides to assist Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to vote unaided.
“INEC policy for the conduct of elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and Code of Conduct have been translated into Braille in order to ensure greater participation of all citizens in the electoral process irrespective of disability,” he said.
The chairman also explained that a component of the z-pad which was supposed to be used for the election had been dropped.
He noted that all categories of ad hoc staff had been vetted adding that the integrity of the process would not be compromised.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Obaseki has chided Ize-Iyamu over the latter’s speculative answer to the governor’s question during the Channels Television Edo state governorship debate held on Sunday, September 13.
During the question and answer session of the two-hour debate, Obaseki asked his opponent: “In the light of the post- Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) economy, and going through your Simple Agenda, in the first year alone, you will require close to about N500 billion to do all the things you want to do for Edo people. How and where do you intend to get that money from?”
Legit.ng had also reported that Obaseki has been honoured as the Most Outstanding Governor of The Year 2019 by the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists, Edo state chapter.
Presenting the award to the governor during his reelection campaign in Eyaen Wards 5 and 6, in Uhunmwode local government area, secretary-general of the association, Dr Charles Okhai, noted that the honour was on the back of the governor’s sterling performance across all sectors of the state.
Edo election: Obaseki's win will send Oshiomhole into political oblivion | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
