Osun West bye-election: July 8 remains unchanged —INEC

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dismissed growing fear of some political parties on alleged plan to shift the date of Osun West Senatorial District by-election, insisting that July 8, 2017 slated for the election is sacrosanct.

Similarly, the electoral umpire assured the general public and critical stakeholders of free, fair and credible election.

Addressing stakeholders comprising INEC officials, security agencies, representatives of political parties, the media among others at the INEC office in Osogbo, the election officer who is the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Delta State, Mr Baritor Kpagih pleaded the cooperation and support of all stakeholders.

Kpagih who was deployed to Osun State to conduct the election, explained that while 11 political parties would participate in the election, only eligible voters with Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) verified by card readers would be allowed to vote during the election.

While disclosing further that voting and accreditation would take place simultaneously, he said voting would commence by 8am and close by 2pm adding however that whosoever was on queue at the closing hour would be allowed to vote.

In his remark, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olafimihan Adeoye announced the restriction of vehicular movement between the hours of 6am and 6pm of election day, clarifying that Ibadan/Ife expressway would be free for passage.

He warned those who have no business in the electoral process to stay off ballot area adding that security agencies will collaborate to ensure a violent free election.

The Director of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Osun, Mr Emmanuel Attah appealed to politicians not to harass or intimidate corps members deployed as INEC ad hoc staff while performing their duty, declaring that there were no fake corps members in the state, who may want to engage in any act of impersonation.

Foreigners have also been warned not to tarnish the image if their country and therefore advised to stay away from polling units as they are not entitled to vote.

The Controller of Immigration in the State, Mr Idowu Adebowale said his command would not tolerate miscreants attempting to loiter around poling units.