• Friday, March 29, 2024
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INEC ready for 2019 polls in Osun –  REC

INEC
Ahead of 2019 general elections, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Osun state, Olusegun Agbaje, has stated the readiness of the Commission to conduct a free and credible election in the state.
Agbaje spoke in Osogbo while briefing newsmen on the preparations of the Commission for the general elections.
He solicited the cooperation of the media to ensure a free electoral process and credible polls, saying before writing reports for their various media organisation, newsmen should draw attention of the electoral body to their observations on the day of the elections.
Agbaje said that will enable the commission to correct misnomer as they arise on the day of the election.
He added that the Commission will soon begin engaging various stakeholders on the need to ensure peaceful poll, and stressed the need by the political class to eschew violence and descalate tension before, during and after elections.
The REC said, “arrangements have been concluded to take yet to be claimed PVCs to the rural areas for collection by their owners. This excercise will take place between Wednesday 16 and Monday 21st January.
“Those that are yet to collect their PVCs should make use of the opportunity to do that. Only those with PVCs would be allowed to cast vote during the election.”
According to him, a total of 1,253,484 PVCs have been distributed out of 1,681,930 leaving a total of 428,446 uncollected.
“We commend the media for the various roles geared towards collaborating with the commission in it efforts towards deepening the country’s democracy.
“I want to urge you to begin to positively engage the political class and make them see reason to shun all Electoral vices and embrace good conduct in politics.
“I want to particularly urge the political parties’ leaders, contestants and their followers to shun all acts that could hinder the smooth conduct of the elections such as the use of thugs to disrupt the electoral process, snatching of ballot boxes, intimidation of election officials, vote buying, among other electoral vices,” Agbaje concluded.

 

JOHN OLANIYI, Osogbo