BENIN CITY – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring a free, fair and violent free February 2015 general elections.
Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mike Igini made this known during INEC stakeholders forum and meeting with the various political parties and their candidates in Benin City.
Igini who harped on the need for all political parties to ensure that no violent is recorded throughout the forthcoming election, said the onus lies on politicians to educate their supporters of the symbol of their parties before going to the polling unit.
The REC disclosed that out of 1,779,738 persons that registered for the permanent voter card (PVC) in Edo State, only 1,046,960 have so far collected theirs.
He announced that out of 177,000 card readers ordered for, 1,861 has been supplied to Edo State, just as he asserted that it takes only 30 seconds at least and one minute at most to accredit an individual.
While condemning violent/thuggery during elections process, Igini stressed that it is of no use for any politician/ political party to encourage such crime, rather, they should encourage them to register and obtain their permanent voter cards.
The publicity secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Godwin Erhabor, described the event as a welcome development.
He used the forum to appeal to party supporters to shun violence during the election, declaring that everybody will still remain one even after the election.
Edo State APC Secretary, Hon. Osaro Idah avered that no politician is worth dying for.
He charged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify its awareness campaign with a view to discouraging thuggery/Violence during the election process.
The meeting was graced by top government officials, party leaders, security agencies, party candidates, individuals and youths, across political parties.
