Uncategorized
INEC cautions UNILORIN students against violence during elections
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara, Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami has advised students of the University of Ilorin against being used to perpetrate violence during the coming general elections in Kwara.
Attaihiru-Madami gave the advice on Tuesday in Ilorin while addressing students of the university on the coming general elections in the state.
“You should refuse to be used as political thugs to foment trouble before, during and after the elections. Tell the politicians who approach you to be their thugs to make use of their children,” he said.
According to him, students are very vulnerable and can easily be lured with money to cause trouble during the elections.
The REC also appealed to the students not to campaign for any political party within the premises of the polling units, adding that any student caught campaigning on the day of the election would be arrested and prosecuted.
He said students should go to the polling units on Election Day with their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to cast their votes for candidates of their choice.
Attahiru-Madami advised the students and youths in the state to shun use of abusive drugs as they can have negative effect on their academic pursuit.
He therefore appealed to the students, if they have not collected their PVCs to do so on or before Feb 8, 2019 which is the last day for the exercise.
“Your PVC is your weapon to elect leaders of your choice, leaders that will bring dividends of democracy to you,” he said.
He assured the university community of INEC’s readiness to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable elections which would be adjudged the best in the country.
The REC admonished them against selling their PVCs for any amount, saying that if they should trade their PVCs for paltry sum of money, they would be mortgaging their future.
He told the students that a total of 1, 130, 266 PVCs has so far been collected out of the 1, 406, 457 registered PVCs in the state.
Attahiru-Madami however expressed optimism that sizeable number out of the remaining 277, 184 uncollected PVCs would be collected before the Feb 8 deadline for collection.
He added that on Election Day, no camera or phone would be allowed into the voting cubicle, adding that voters would leave their phones with the Presiding Officers and collect same back after dropping their ballot papers.
“Food is not allowed in the premises of the polling areas, voters are advised to eat before coming to vote.
“This is to discourage vote buying by politicians, because bringing food to voters at the polling units amounts to influencing voters to vote for their candidates,” Attahiru-Madami added.
The REC also said that no vehicle would be allowed at the polling units as politicians may bring money in the vehicle to buy voters.
He appealed to the students to maintain peace and be orderly when they come to vote.
Contact: info@royalnews.com.ng