By Steve Oni, Ilorin
The Independent National Electoral Commission says it has abolished the use of incident forms during elections.
It however noted that card readers had been improved and would be strictly used to ascertain the authenticity of Permanent Voters Card and the electorate, saying that the machines are ninety nine percent perfect.
The Kwara State Resident Electoral Commission, Mallam Garuba Attahiru disclosed this on Tuesday at an Election security meeting with stakeholders organised by the Nigeria Police Force, Kwara State Command, held at
Stella Obasanjo hall, Ilorin.
According to him, politicians always connive with some staff of the Commission and use the incident forms for election rigging, pointing out that the electoral umpire had blocked all avenues for election rigging.
Mallam Attahiru however urged politicians to conduct themselves in peaceful and orderly manner to give security men less work to do.
He added that the issue of election is always peaceful in Kwara state, but the dynamic is now changing with destruction of political billboards and posters by political thugs.
The REC warned that such immoral act must stop and called for violence free election, assuring that all political parties and their candidates would be given a level playing ground.
In a remark, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Sulyman AbdulKareem, said politics is all about making services and impacts on the people, urging politicians not to be occupied with political struggles to gain power, but be committed to the principle of selfless service for the masses.
Professor Abdulkareem explained that people are now in digital era and they were well informed in playing part in politics and sensible to vote for the best party and candidates.
He urged politicians to be civil and decorum in their campaigns and should not take politics as a do or die affair.
Professor Abdulkareem also charged them to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and should not use politics to cause division in the country.
In a goodwill message, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, represented by the Balogun Gambari of Ilorin, stressed the need for politicians to refrain from attacking personalities, using youths for thuggery and hooliganism, but focus their electoral campaigns on issues that would make them win the conscience of the people.
Also in a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mallam Umar Abdulwahab represented by the Assistant Secretary of the Council, Comrade Mahmood Olayinka Alaya, assured unbiased reports and level playing ground for all political parties and their candidates, appealing to the security agencies to ensure adequate protection of Journalists that would be participating in the election for them to discharge their duties without fear and favour.
The stakeholders meeting was attended by heads of security agencies in the state, Governorship candidate of the PDP, traditional rulers including Olomu of Omu-Aran, Olofa of Offa, Olosi of OSI, Olola of Olla, Olojoku of Ojoku, the Emir of Ilesha Baruba and Onipako of Share among others.
Leave a Reply