Ahead of the August 18 by-election in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area Constituency 3, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has urged all eligible voters in the state not to yield to politicians’ demand and sell their votes.
The state resident electoral commissioner, Obo Effanga stated this during a stakeholder’s interactive session involving Civil Society groups, Ijaw Youth Council, National Orientation Agency, Police, Electoral officers amongst other at the INEC headquarters on Tuesday.
According to the state resident electoral commissioner, INEC has improved its operations to ensure that elections are free and fair.
“People now focus on voters and in trying to focus on the voters, they are using all source of means including to buy the voters and when you have a situation that the voters themselves are also interested to be bought it now becomes difficult. We Will not allow our polling units to be converted into a trading centre”
Effanga also appealed to political parties to pick party agents that are committed to their course and further called for proper sensitization of party agents on electoral laws before the elections.
On his part, Director National Orientation Agency, Rivers State, Oliver Wolugbom urged all political leaders, voters, electoral officers and everyone in the electioneering process to have a positive change of attitude during elections.
“I appeal to Rivers people and all citizens of the state and those who are going to be the voters, let this election on the 18th be a test case for us, let us tell Nigerians that the name they have given Rivers state as re-run state has changed. We have to change our attitude. Elections are not a do or die affairs”
Also speaking, Director of operations, Rivers state police command, Stephen Hafford, urged youth leaders to sensitize youths in their wards and units on the need to be of good conduct during elections.
“The problem is the youth, youth leaders talk to your youth they are our problems, they are being bought over to cause problems at the polling units. We send our officers to polling units without any gun on them to avoid people feeling intimidated while voting, the youths of the state should be cautioned so we can conduct a peaceful election”
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