INEC to prosecute victims of multiple registration in Ekiti

The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday  vowed that about 77,000 Ekiti indigenes, who engaged in multiple voting in the 2011 Registration  would be prosecuted before June 21 date of the election.

He also bemoaned the breach of Electoral Act through the erection of political billboards and posters ahead of the Ekiti governorship election slated for June 21, and urged the aspirants to remove same in the interest of peace.

He described the erection of billboards and pasting of posters as “purely illegal,” ordered owners of such campaign materials to remove them without further delay, adding that the action contradicted the 2010 Electoral Law.

Jega was speaking at election stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti which was attended by leaders of political parties, traditional rulers and security agents, former Governors Niyi Adebayo and Ayo Fayose, amongst others.
Jega described as “spurious and unsubstantiated” allegations by some politicians that some officials were compromising their positions ahead of the Ekiti governorship election and the 2015 general elections.

Former Governor Ayo Fayose had on Wednesday alleged that some officials of the Commission met at a five-star hotel on Victoria Island to perfect how to doctor the voter register in favour of the party.
Jega added: “If you have any evidence about any of us either being partisan with any political party, come out with it but don’t distract us with your spurious and unsubstantiated allegations.

“We will do our best to remain impartial in the way we conduct our duties; anyone we see being partial, we will obviously deal with that.”
Appealing to political parties and politicians to cooperate with the Commission, he said a free, fair and credible election should be the concern of stakeholders.

In his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Alhaji Halilu Pai, assured that the Commission would create an enabling environment for all political parties.
Jega allayed fears of those that raised the issue of multiple voting, saying that security men would be more vigilant to guide against such.
At the ceremony, the Commission displayed the voter registers and promised to distribute copies of the document to political parties to enable them to make correction.