Two days before the governorship and state assembly elections, candidates and political parties, yesterday, traded accusations over plots to unleash violence and rig the exercise.
The accusations and counter-accusations were made as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, commenced the distribution of election materials across the 774 local councils of the country.
Distributing the election materials to the 16 LGAs of Ekiti State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Ayobami Salami, assured citizens of the state of free, fair and credible elections on Saturday.
“INEC is prepared, we are more prepared than we were during the Presidential election and we would put everything in place to ensure a free, fair, credible and laudable election.”
Across the states, the other RECs spoke in like manner.
We’ll deal ruthlessly with trouble-makers — DIG
Meanwhile, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police supervising North-West, DIG Hafiz Inuwa, has warned trouble-makers to steer clear of Kano State or bear the brunt should they foment trouble and attempt to disrupt the governorship and state assembly elections.
The DIG stated this while briefing newsmen on the level of preparedness of the police for the elections.
Inuwa said: “I’m here to talk to our officers and men on the need that we must be firm, focused and professional in the discharge of our duties. The police will remain apolitical. We belong to everybody and we belong to nobody. If you obey the rules, certainly we will be with you. But whoever tries to test out collective responsibility and tries to foment trouble, we are ready to deal with the person ruthlessly especially here in Kano.”
Edeoga remains our Enugu gov candidate — LP
The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure has declared that Chijioke Edeoga remains the party’s candidate for the Enugu State Governorship Election.
Abure said the clarification became necessary in the light of speculations to the contrary being championed by opponents who were desperate toi unduly benefit from the winning wave of Obidients and the Labour Party.
He said: “The attention of the Party has been drawn to some attempts by some struggling governorship candidates to tap into the anointing of the Obidients/Labour Party Candidate, Chijioke Edeoga by trying to de-market our candidate instead of selling themselves.
“For the umpteenth time, we want to reiterate that in Enugu State, the Obidients do not have any partnership with anybody or party and directs all our Enugu State Obidients and teeming party supporters to disregard any statements or moves by candidates of other political parties to harvest where they did not sow.
“Our Candidate is Mr Chijoke Edeoga. Vote for him and all Labour Party Candidates for the House of Assembly massively on Saturday.”
Vanguard