- INEC resident electoral commissioner in Plateau, Hussaini Pai, says credible party primaries will ensure free and fair general elections in 2019
- He describes political parties as critical stakeholders in the conduct of any election
- Police to deploy 18,426 officers for Osun gubernatorial poll
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged political parties to conduct credible primary elections ahead of the 2019 general polls.
Hussaini Pai, its resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Plateau, gave this advice in an interactive session with political parties on Wednesday, September 19, in Jos.
According to Pai, credible party primaries will ensure free and fair general elections in 2019, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
“We want you to conduct credible primaries, because only an acceptable primaries will ensure a free, fair and credible general elections in 2019,” he stated.
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The REC said the interactive session was part of the commission’s plans in ensuring an acceptable general elections in 2019.
He described political parties as critical stakeholders in the conduct of any election, hence the need to educate them on its level of preparedness.
“INEC is determined to deliver a free and fair elections in 2019; in fact, we are ready for it, but we can not do it alone, and so key election stakeholders must be involved.
“INEC is conducting elections for the parties because they are the ones, who present candidates who will stand for elections. This is why this type of interaction is necessary,” he said.
Pai also advised the political parties to sensitise members on the need to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) from the commission.
According to him, more than 200,000 PVCs remain uncollected by prospective voters in Plateau.
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“The commission didn’t produce these PVCs for fun, it was produced for the purpose of election and I wonder why people will not come to collect theirs.
“People must know that it is only when you have your PVC that you will be allowed to vote on election days.
“So we are urging all political parties to sensitise their members to go and collect their PVCs to enable them vote in the 2019 general elections, ” he added.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria police force has disclosed that 18,426 policemen would be deployed to Osun state for security purposes during the Saturday, September 22, governorship election.
The Sun reports that according to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, the number includes men and officers from conventional and PMF units, intelligence as well as the technical teams of the force.
The police boss said each polling station on the election day will be guarded by four policemen.
He urged politicians and their supporters to refrain from violent conduct during before, during and after the election.
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Source: Naija.ng