2019: Interfere in our constitutional duty, risk jail - INEC tells politicians
- INEC warned politicians not to interfere in its duties
- The commission’s Oyo state REC said anyone caught interfering with the electoral body’s duties will be made to face the full wrath of the law
- He also warned politicians against creating unnecessary tension during campaign/elections period
Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo state, on Thursday, June 7, warned politicians to stop interfering in the constitutional duty of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or risk jail.
Agboke gave the warning in Ibadan at the presentation of the certificate of return to Adebo Ogundoyin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who won the Ibarapa East state constituency by-election.
The Oyo state REC also called on Nigerians to change their view about INEC as the commission would ensure that the right thing would be done.
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“We mean it, even if it is INEC’s staff or ad-hoc staff that is disturbing the commission from doing the right thing, such a person must be ready to go to jail.
“If you don’t want to go to jail in any of the commission’s electioneering activities, you should follow the due process, stop hijacking ballot papers and allow INEC to do its work.
“The neutrality demonstrated by INEC and security agencies in the just concluded Ibarapa East state constituency election has demonstrated the sincerity of INEC in conducting a free, fair and credible election in 2019,’’ Agboke said.
He urged politicians to shun the idea of creating unnecessary tension where there was none, adding that shunning such practices would make the 2019 elections to be credible.
In his remarks, Ogundoyin promised to contribute his quota to the development of his constituency and party.
The winner of Ibarapa East state constituency seat also promised to build good relations with other members of the Oyo State House of Assembly irrespective of party affiliation.
He said that working together would enable every member of the house to achieve greater results for their various constituencies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the by-election was occasioned by the death of Hon. Michael Adeyemo who had represented the constituency.
The late Adeyemo was also the speaker of the House until his death.
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Legit.ng previously reported that ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti fixed for Saturday, July 14, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), appealed to the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission and other security agencies to beware of subverting the will of the people through shady deals.
It admonished political stakeholders in the state on the sanctity of the ballot boxes which represent the people's zeal for development, stability and progress in all ramifications.
The religious body also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to devise ways to curtail killings in the northeast and north-central Nigeria, describing how Christians were being mowed down by suspected insurgents and killer herdsmen as gory and unacceptable to the body.
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Source: Legit.ng
