The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), has allayed fear over possibility of conducting free, fair and credible Poll in Osogbo.
The commission however released phone numbers for complaints of any kind by the electorates, media and the general public in the Saturday governorship election in Osun state.
The commission assured people of the state of its readiness to conduct free, fair and credible election that will be acceptable to the people.
The State Resident Electoral Commission of INEC, Olusegun Agbaje, who have the assurance at a briefing held with pressmen on the preparation of the commission for the election noted that sensitive materials have been moved from CBN to all the 30 local government areas of the state.
According to Agbaje, the situation room of the commission will be receiving complaints through 08168963080, 07057789656 and 07086575910.
He stated that accreditation and voting will go on simultaneously between 8:00am and 2:00 pm, saying “only those on queue at 2pm will be allowed to vote.
Agbaje urged the people to dismiss allegations by some politicians that the commission has released uncollected PVCs to certain political parties and also compromised the card reader.
He warned politicians to desist from misleading the public, saying that the commission has kept all uncollected PVCs in its strong room.
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He assured that the smart card readers have been enhanced for optimal performance and 996 have been reserved to serve as backups.
“Out of 1,246,915 registered voters, a total of 435,015 PVCs, that is 25.86 percent, are yet to be collected by their owners and are being kept in the INEC strong room at the state office here in Osogbo.
“The commission has no plan whatsoever to give the uncollected PVCs to any political party. The Commission’s Smart Card Readers are not also designed to favour any political party. I therefore strongly advice all stakeholders in the Osun state governorship election, especially the political parties’ leaders and contestants, to desist from making unguarded utterances and unfounded allegations.
“It should be noted that the commission has perfected plans with the security agencies to decisively deal with anyone engaging in any illicit act, particularly the notorious act of ‘see and buy’ as it is called in the local parlance during the election.
He however appealed to news men to cooperate with the commission to ensure that the final result is announced by the INEC before circulating it to the public.
