The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Osun State says politicians cannot bypass the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, technology by the purchase of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke made the call during his visit to the Commander, Nigeria Army, Engineering Construction Command, Ede, the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of National Orientation Agency, NOA.
Our Correspondent reports that the Resident Commissioner also called for the collaboration of stakeholders for the successful conduct of next year’s elections.
The courtesy visit to the Nigerian Army, Engineering Construction Command Ede, and the Osun State Police Command by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC is coming after the umpire recorded an attack in one of its offices in Ede South Local Government Area of the state.
His first point of call was the Engineering Construction Command Ede where he was received by the Commander of ECC Ede, Brigadier-General Kabiru Suleiman alongside Senior Officers in the Command before going to State Command of the Nigerian Police force where he met with the Commissioner of Police, Kehinde Longe.
The Resident Commissioner was in their various offices to solicit their cooperation for the successful conduct of the forthcoming general elections by providing security for INEC officials and the electorates during elections.
Dr Agboke explained that INEC is not the only body saddled with the responsibility of conducting free, fair and credible elections but has to work with other stakeholders to have a peaceful and successful conduct of the election.
In their separate remarks, the Commander Nigerian Army, Engineering Construction Command, Brigadier-General Kabiru Suleiman and CP Kehinde Longe assured the INEC of doing all within their statutory responsibilities to support the electoral umpire in conducting a credible election in the state.
The REC and his entourage later proceeded to the headquarters of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to canvass for support of the agency in creating awareness and sensitization of the member of the public on the need to get their Permanent Voters Cards ahead of the election.
Dr Agboke said it is an electoral offence to be found with a PVC that doesn’t belong to one, noting that security agencies have the responsibility to go after such individuals and prosecute them.
The Director, National Orientation Agency, Mr Abiodun Ibikunle, assured the electoral umpire that the agency would do its best in sensitizing the public on the need to collect their PVCs and conduct themselves peacefully during the exercise.
Mr Ibikunle also urged INEC not to hesitate in giving useful information to the agency on the electoral process.
Funmi Adekoya
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