By Jubril Bada
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The Electoral Officer of  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mr. Othuke Egwuteral, has expressed the commission’s readiness to  conduct a free, fair and credible 2019 general elections.

To this end, Egwuteral stated that the commission has been able to conduct Continuous Voters Registration, successful monitoring of political parties primaries and display of voter cards among others in the local government.

He  stated this at a stakeholders meeting held at the commission’s  office in Akure.

He disclosed that 105,161Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected by prospective voters in the local government.

He further disclosed that, out of 301,466 PVCs received 196,305 have been distributed.

The INEC electoral officer,who expressed displeasure over what he described as poor collection of PVCs by prospective voters, urged political parties to sensitise residents in the council on the need to come for their voter cards.

He used the event to warn against vote buying and hate speeches saying anyone caught violating the electoral  law will be dealt with.

While responding to questions, Egwuteral stated that the issue of defacing of posters should be reported to the appropriate authority and urged political parties to register with signage agency before pasting their posters.

He, however, assured residents of the council on the upgrade of card readers for effective performance on elections days.

Speaking at the meeting, the representative of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Mr. Jimoh Suleiman said the party was  not relenting in educating people on the need to collect their PVCs to enable them  vote in the coming elections

On his part, the representative of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Omoniyi Abiodun, complained about defacing of campaign posters of the party candidates at the party secretariat along Oyemkun road in Akure..

Also, the representative of the  Labour Party, Mr.Jamiu Moshood alleged security agencies of being bias on ways of handling issues during an election.

Reacting, a Superintendent of Police, Ajoke Suleiman , stated that  among police  responsibilities  was to protect lives and properties and maintained that security agencies are neutral during election,

While calling on INEC officials to notify police on any complaint during the elections. Suleiman explained further that security agencies are having names on their tags for people to report any misbehavior from  their officers.