By Jubril Bada & Adekola Afolabi
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As political campaigns for the 2019 general elections gather momentum, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ondo State, Dr Rufus Oloruntoyin Akeju has expressed worry over the non collection of  436,704 PVCs out of one million, eight hundred and twenty three thousand, two hundred and forty-two who registered in the state.

Akeju who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting with political parties in the state, held in Akure on the election, observed that it was worrisome that in a politically vibrant state like Ondo, such huge number of people “who were able to bear the burden of standing in queues under the sun for the registration would now shun the collection of their PVCs.

The REC, for the umpteenth time however called on all registered voters across the state who have not collected their PVCs to come forward to collect them personally.

He equally charged political parties in the state participating in next year elections and the general public to exercise restraint in their utterances and avoid getting involved in verbal wars and making inflammatory comments capable of igniting political tension.

He said: “The current increasing phenomenon of hate speech is disturbing. Equally disturbing is the increasing incidence of the use of money (vote buying) to openly induce voters even on Election Day.”

“The commission’s desire is to entrench a truly democratic system for all citizens and not a plutocracy open only to the rich. Violence, hate speech and inducement of voters are criminal activities punishable under our laws.”

Akeju requested for a more robust engagement from the political parties, saying it will promote greater transparency, and negative vices such as election violence, hate speech and other unwholesome practices will naturally fade away.

He noted that it is necessary for stakeholders to promote positive attitude and responses among the citizenry, encourage compliance with relevant rules and regulations as well as discourage apathy, violence and all forms of malpractices.

Stakeholders who converged at the meeting, included security organisations, the representatives of political parties, associations, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), government agencies and religious groups.

Speaking with journalists, the State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Alex Kalejaye, denied alleged vandalism of the posters of political  parties attributed to APC by the State Chairman of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Mr. Joshua Oguntuase.

Kalejaye condemned the allegation in its entirety and described the APC in the state as a decent and well cultured party which has impacted meaningfully on the lives of people and it has no reason for doing such.

On his part, the state chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Korede Duyile, charged INEC and the security agencies on the need to ensure the right things are done to make the elections credible.

Also, the State Secretary of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Surajudeen Abdulazeez, advised INEC to partner with the state government to make the PVC a requirement for parents before their children are admitted into schools.

He also noted that the representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the state government should be invited for the forum following the assumption of the public that the drivers are the one used as thugs on election day. This, he said will enable them to clear themselves.