…As ICPC strategizes to prevent vote trading

My Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Osun State, on Wednesday commenced distribution of sensitive materials received from the Central Bank in Osogbo, to various local government areas of the State.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Mutiu Agboke supervised the distribution witnessed by representatives of various political parties participating in the election.

However, ICPC Resident Commissioner, Demola Bakare, said recirculation of old naira notes will not aid vote trading in Osun during the Saturday’s election.

Addressing journalists, Dr Agboke said the sensitive materials which include ballot papers and result sheets were customised in batches for easy and quick deployment to various local government areas of the State.

He expressed readiness of the commission and other various stakeholders to ensure a seemless conduct of the election.

“This election we are going into is as much important as the previous ones we have conducted. And because of the fillers from the State that tensions are everywhere, people have been peddling various unfounded rumours, we told ourselves at the Inter-agaency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES meeting that we must step up our games, we must scale up the level of arrangements, the procedure of the election and the security.

“If disruption happens anywhere it will attract zero vote, INEC will not go back there to conduct election. Where elections had been council because of over voting, we will not give opportunity to anybody. The security has assured us that proper deployment will be made, we are going to secure all our levels of locations, from ward, to local and to state. Our armed security person will be fully on ground at the collation centers.

“The Nigeria Police Force as the umbrella body coordinating the security activities is very much on ground. We have mapped out our threat assessment, we are doing what we need to do. So, it’s going to be a sterling outing for us in Osun and I can assure you that the election will be one of the best conducted in Nigeria”, Agboke said.

Speaking, ICPC Resident Commissioner, Demola Bakare said: “We have put strategies in place to prevent vote trading and that is important so that we will have healthy democratic practices devoid of gratification.

“We had some experiences to rely on in the previous election and we are carrying forward that experience to nip in the board those who attempt to carry out vote trading. We are going to prevent it, we arrest during the presidential election and investigation is still on.

“We have our surveillance in place before during and after the election to prevent electoral fraud especially the vote trading. “