Ondo INEC decries ‘illegal’ voter registration-Akeredolu urges INEC to name indicted party

 By Damisi Ojo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State yesterday alerted the public to an alleged illegal house-to-house compilation of voters’ cards by a political party.

In a statement by its Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Celina Beckley, the electoral body said the exercise is unconstitutional because it contravenes the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had raised the alarm over alleged illegal registration of voters by the ruling Labour Party (LP) with visual evidence.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Akin Orebiyi, denied the allegation at a stakeholders’ meeting at the State Police Officers Mess, Akure.

INEC said: “Political parties and their members are warned to forthwith desist from this activity or any other that is in contravention of this act and the Constitution of Nigeria.”

It urged security agencies to be on the alert, saying anyone caught in the act would be punished.

The statement also urged the public to keep their cards for the October 20 poll to elect the governorship candidate of their choice.

The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has challenged the INEC to name the party that embarked on illegal voters’ card compilation.

In a statement in Akure, the state capital, by its Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, the organisation noted that Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the PDP had raised the alarm that the ruling LP had begun illegal registration of voters.

It said the ruling party operated under the pretence of conducting a biometric registration of civil servants for e-payment.

ACN said: “But the action is a full-blown plot by the Mimiko administration to compromise the October 20 election.”

ACN said it presented a graphic detail of how the LP intended to use the biometric registration to rig the election.

“Therefore, since INEC has confirmed this development, we call on the security agents to investigate this and bring the offenders to book to avoid violence and chaos in the state,” ACN said.

Source: The Nation