AHEAD of the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr Segun Agbaje on Tuesday, warned potential vote buyers to stay clear of the state as all the Security Agencies have been fully mobilised to apprehend such elements with a view of making them face the full weight of the law of the land.
The REC who handed down the warning during an interview with newsmen in Abuja yesterday also appealed to registered voters who were yet to collect their Permanent Voter cards, PVCs, to come around for the PVCs in the remaining few days to the poll as nobody would be allowed to the voting centres without the card not to talk of casting their votes.
Agbaje who declared that the Commission in Osun State under his watch was more than prepared for the poll as all the needed arrangements for a free, fair and credible election in the State have been put in place and stated that as such, any potential obstacle such as vote buying to discredit the conduct of the exercise would be crushed
According to him, “We are not entertaining any fear about the success of the September 22nd election in the state, we have organised series of stakeholders meetings before now involving the candidates of the political parties, leaders of the political parties, religious and traditional leaders, security agencies and what have you and with the reports from the nooks and crannies of the state, all will be well in Osun State. It is going to be a sign of what to come 2019, the general elections.
“I’m using this opportunity to warn potential troublemakers, especially vote buyers to stay away from the state during the election because such people will be fished out by security agents and they will end up jail.
” we are even going to re gig our pooling centers to make it practically impossible for vote buying ineffective, they will lose their money and as well go to jail if caught.
When asked whether or not he was under pressure from individuals or political parties ahead of the election for any form of possible favour, Agbaje said, ” I have always said that I cannot help anybody; it is what the smart card reader gives that will record, and after the result has been announced they will be given to the party agents, that is why we are insisting that all parties should present their agents before the election so that they can witness what is going on.
“We have met with so many people, religious leaders, other leaders and also NGOs that are collaborating with us to make sure that we achieve success. So, the case of relying on any help from Segeun Agbaje will not arise at all”.
To ensure neutrality before, during and after the election, the REC disclosed that an arrangement has been concluded to administer oaths of neutrality on all the staff from the office assistants to to the REC himself as well as all the ad hoc staff being engaged for the exercise.