INEC Distributes Sensitive Materials Ahead of Saturday’s By-election in Ondo

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos and Fidelis David in Akure

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State, yesterday, distributed sensitive materials ahead of the Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal constituency bye-election scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 3.

This was as the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi and his party, have warned against vote-buying in the pending bye-election.

The seat of the federal constituency became vacant in the House of Representatives following the resignation of Mr.Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who was appointed the Minister ofInterior by President Bola Tinubu.

Prof. Kunle Ajayi, INEC National Commissioner, supervising Osun, Ogun and Ondo, who monitored the exercise, held at the headquarters of the commission in Akure, said the distribution of the ballot papers was to show that the commission was ready for the by-election, promising that INEC would be transparent in the conduct of the election.

While appealing to the political parties to eschew violence on the election day, the commissioner said the sensitive materials were being distributed to ensure that no ward or polling unit was omitted or did not get materials for the election.

“So the sensitive materials will be moved to the two local governments councils tomorrow being Thursday with the help of security agencies.

“And, we want people to have confidence in INEC’s conduct of a free and fair election because we don’t have any political party; we don’t have any candidate; we are neutral in everything that we are doing. And we are going to reflect that again in Saturday’s by-election,” he said.

In her remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, assured the political parties of the commission’s readiness to conduct transparent, free and fair election.

The State Chairman of Inter -Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr. Adesanya Olaoluwa, commended the INEC for their transparency in the exercise, saying all the parties were ready to cooperate with the commission.

Meanwhile, representatives of the eight political parties participating in the election and security agencies including NSCDC, FRSC, Police, Immigration and DSS were at the venue of the exercise.

Meanwhile, Obi, who was in Jos with other party stalwarts to show solidarity campaign for the party’s Senatorial and House of Reps candidates Gyang Zi and Daniel Asama, warned against vote buying.

“They will come as usual to buy your votes, I don’t mean you that are here. But you have to go and preach to people that are collecting money from politicians to vote for them.

“They are voting for more killings and more hunger in the state. They are voting for more trouble; they are voting for their school children not to be in school. That’s what they are voting for when they collect their money,” he said.

He said the target of LP was to get Nigerians away from “a country that only consumes to a country that produces” through which the youths would get engaged with meaningful jobs thereby drastically reducing criminality.

He lamented the deteriorating state of Plateau describing it as a shadow of itself, adding that the state used to be farm produce hub of the nation and a place always nominated for political, economic and other businesses’ meetings, but that today, these privileges had died out due to insecurity.

He called on all citizens to work hard and reverse the ugly trend of mindless and criminally orchestrated killings, adding that the situation is dire.

National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure lamented the high cost of living, saying life had become unbearable to the greatest population, hence the need for the citizens to take their destiny in their hands by voting the right candidates the LP has provided.

“We must all come out to vote and defend our votes. I want to say clearly and categorically too that what happened to us in the general election of 2023, where there was an open robbery of our presidential mandate can never again happen.

“So, I urge you to come out on Saturday and vote and defend your votes. Let’s work together with one spirit, with one mind, with unity of purpose, and we shall defeat them as victory is sure.”