INEC to use customised ballot materials for Edo election

The Independent National Eletoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday said it would conduct Saturday’s governorship election in Edo sate with customised ballot papers and result sheets to neutralise possible movement of the materials from senatorial district to another.

Besides, Acting Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar also read riot act to stakeholders in the state and vowed to deal ruthlessly with anybody including men of the Nigerian police who attempt to manipulate the election.

The two men stated this Wednesday in Benin City at a stakeholders forum with leadership of political parties and their candidates which included the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Charles Airhiavbere (PDP), Solomon Edebiri (ANPP), Frank Ukonga (SMDP), Andrew Igwemoh (Labour) and Comrade Paul Orunmwensen (NCP).

Jega said the Commission wanted to use Edo state as a test case in the conduct of a free and fair election in the country and warned that any form of thuggery and militancy on the day of the election would meet the force of security agencies.

“The ballot papers are customised so you can’t move them from one part of the state to another. We want to ensure that there is true accountability for unused ballot papers, result sheets are also customised.

Oshiomhole who presented a fake INEC Identification card and voters’ card purportedly to be used by one of the political parties urged the Commission to watch out for such acts. But the PDP candidate, Airhiavbere urged the commission to ensure that all bill boards or posters were removed from any polling unit while Edebiri of the ANPP urged security agents to ensure thugs do not snatch ballot boxes “People have been imported and are being trained now to ensure that they disrupt the election”.