By Nofisat Marindoti
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has threatened to deal with anybody caught in the act of either buying or selling votes in the September 22nd Governorship Election in the State of Osun.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, stated this while addressing participants at a consultative meeting with stakeholders organized by Hope For Family Development Initiative (HFDI) with the support of National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Agbaje said measures are in top gear to stem the trend of votes buying and selling that characterised the Ekiti state governorship election of recent.
The programme that was organised to sensitise women on voting with the theme “Promoting Women’s Participation in Osun Governorship Election ” was also supported by United States Agency for international development UAID and Ukaid.
Agbaje disclosed that despite intensive sensitization and mobilization of electorate, no fewer than 548,000 Permanent Voters Cards are yet to be collected.
According to him, the door of the Commission is wide open to prospective electorate to come out and collect their PVC.
While expressing his delight at the conduct of peaceful primary election in the state, Agbaje said the Commission has concluded arrangements to ensure that all the participating political parties have hitch free and successful campaign.
He enjoined the vulnerable, especially the women to come out enmasse to exercise their franchise for their preferred candidate with the assurance that their votes will count.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of (HFDI) Mr Aremu Stephen Akinyele, said the Hope For Family Development Initiative (HFDI) organised the program to sensitise, educate and mobilise women to participate in the upcoming election in the state.
He said the project which is slated for three months will be implemented majorly in 18 local government that have records of low participation of women in voting activities in the past.
In the same vein the National Democratic Institute Manager, Mr Ben Aga said the Sensitization was organized to educate women and stakeholders on the need for free and fair election.
