Don’t collect anything from politicians, INEC warns officers in Osun

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BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO

The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned its electoral officers, presiding officers and ad-hoc staff at the Saturday governorship election in Osun State against collecting money or any other offer from politicians at polling units.

In an exclusive interview with The Point, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye said any erring official would be sanctioned.

He said, “We have trained our presiding officers to be professional and ethical. We have provided for them and we are going to pay them allowances. We are going to pay them everything that is due to them. They should know that they are not supposed to collect anything from politicians. It’s against the law and against the rule for them to do that and the commission will apply the necessary sanctions if any presiding officer or any electoral officer or any ad-hoc staff does anything that compromises his or her own integrity.”

He also said the commission would be partnering with security agencies to ensure that security agents don’t compromise standards on election day.

Okoye cautioned media practitioners against heating up the polity ahead of the poll adding that there was the need for objective reporting of events leading to the election.

He, therefore, appealed to journalists that would be covering the election to always cross-check their facts before reporting in order not to heat up the polity.

Okoye reiterated INEC’s determination to conduct a free, fair and credible poll in the state and urged all stakeholders to assist the commission in delivering on its mandate.