Osun 2022: We are set to conduct free, fair election in Osun – INEC

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

As the governorship election in Osun state draws closer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed its readiness to conduct free, fair and credible election in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. AbdulGaniy Raji, disclosed this in Osogbo, the state capital, at a two-day workshop organised by the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation for Journalists and Information Officers across the state.

He assured residents of the state that the electoral umpire is 95% ready as many activities are being put in place to ensure the poll is itch free.

He highlighted some of the strategies put in place by the Commission such as conversion of voting points to polling Units with the motive of giving opportunity to those who just attained the age of 18 to vote during the election.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Head of Department of Election and Party Monitoring in Osun, Alhaji Shehu Muhammed, noted that the Commission has been engaging in familiarization visits to the political parties; religious groups; voter education exercise and procedure for Corp members in NYSC Camp, Ede, to ensure the election is free of rancour, among others.

Pro. Raji further stated that the Commission is working on taking the Permanent Voter Cards that are yet to be claimed by the owners to Registration Areas (Wards) for easy collection by the people, stressing that 15 political parties are to participate in the election out of the 18 registered parties.

He said due to failure on the part of the remaining three political parties to meet up with the electoral law which gives every party a time frame to submit the names and details of their governorship candidates, they will not be participating in the election

He also assured the residents of the state that the Commission is going to deploy Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) and the INEC result viewing Centre which will assist in conducting an acceptable poll in the State.

Pro. Raji therefore explained that accreditation of voters will start 8:30am and ends 2:30 in the afternoon. He also gave the phone number: 08051149999, for people to call for complaint during election, while noting that the election results will be transmitted electronically via inecelectionresult.ng.

He however solicited for support and cooperation from the journalists and Osun residents at large, while admonishing those who are yet to collect their voters card to do so for them not to be disenfranchised.