Osun Poll: 18, 426 Policemen Deployed

• Inec Bars Mobile Phones In Voting Areas

By Sola Jacobs

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared that mobile phones would not be allowed in the voting area during September 22, Osun governorship poll.

This was disclosed by the INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, on Monday in Osogbo while addressing stakeholders’ forum on Osun election.

He said no efforts would be spared to stop vote buying during Osun poll, noting that vote buying poses major challenge to credible election in the country.

Also addressing the gathering, the Inspector General of Politice, Ibrahim Idris, said 18,426 policemen, that will include men and officers from conventional and PMF units, intelligence and technical teams would be deployed to provide security during the poll.

According to him, men and officers that would be on duty during the poll have been trained to secure lives and properties during the poll, adding that no less than four policemen would be on duty in each polling station on the election day.

The IG said: “Arrangements have been concluded to deploy over 18, 426 police personnel including conventional and PMF units, Intelligence and technical teams to provide security.

“This number excludes the support services to be provided by other security personnel from the Armed Forces, the Immigration Service, the Prisons, the Customs and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to complement the efforts of the police.

“Our brothers politicians and their supporters are advised to desist from actions that may precipitate violence before, during and after the election.

“The police officers deployed for this election have been lectured and educated on electoral conducts, behaviours, laws and offences, and are therefore expected to conduct themselves in a highly ethical manners.”

On INEC preparedness for the poll, the electoral commission boss, Prof Yakubu said collection of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC) has been extended  till 5:pm Wednesday evening.

He said over 90per cent of registered voters have collected their PVCs and urged those that were yet to collect to make use of the extension to get their PVCs.

Restating the readiness of INEC to conduct a free, fair, credible and peaceful election, INEC chairman said the commission has concluded all necessary arrangements for the distribution of electoral materials for the election.

Prof Yakubu said: “We want to ensure that the next governor is determined by the voters or people of the state.  We will ensure that election materials arrive the various polling centres promptly.

“The worrisome vote buying issue, diversion of election materials, falsification of election results will be resisted. Vote buying and selling is a challenge to election process and democracy. Nigerians should join hands together against the challenge.

“Vote sellers take pictures of ballot with mobile phones to claim money. That will not be allowed. Voters will be made to drop their phones and pick them after voting.

“We expect that the Osun election is another example of a free, fair credible and peaceful election.We are happy that over 90 percent of Osun people have collected their PVCs.

Collection of PVCs extended to 5.00pm on Wednesday.”

 

…16,000 Adhoc Staff Recruited To Participate

Resident Electoral Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun, Mr Olusegun Agbaje has said that the commission recruited 16,000 adhoc staff for Saturday election in the state.

While addressing a meeting of stakeholder on Osun governorship election on Monday in Osogbo, he pledged the determination of the commission to conduct free, fair and credible election.

He maintained that the commission did not increase the polling units in the state aside the 3,010 polling units that existed in the state based on 30 local governments, with 332 registered areas and the total of 1,682,495 voters.

Mr Agbaje stated further that a total of 1,237,620 voters collected their PVC which is 73.58% of the population, while the total number 444,310 voters refused to collect their PVC which represented 26.2% of the populace.

The INEC resident commissioner gave the breakdown of the registered voters in the state as 807,598 males which represents 48% and 874,897 which is 52% female prospective voters respectively.

The adhoc staff, according to him, were recruited from National Youth Service Corps members serving in the state, while others are sourced from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and the Federal Polytechnic Ede respectively.