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The use of phones would not be allowed in polling centres during the September 22 governorship election in Osun State.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Olusegun Agbaje gave this warning in Osogbo, the state capital during a meeting with representatives of political in the state on Thursday.
He alleged that some politicians were planning to manipulate the process but that INEC was taking necessary steps to stop the plot and ensure a free, fair, transparent and credible exercise.
According to him, some politicians were making arrangement to use money to entice and induce voters at the polling center and compel the voters to vote for a particular candidate and then snap the ballot paper as evidence or receipt for the money.
The REC said such action constitutes electoral offence and warned that any voter caught snapping his or ballot paper before, during or after casting his or her vote would be apprehended and prosecuted according to the law.
He also listed several other electoral offences and vowed that whoever that contravened the electoral laws would not go Scott free. He noted that the success of Osun governorship election has serious significance to the 2019 general elections in the country and that it must be conducted according to the best practices.
He said “We won’t allow the use of phones at the polling centers. We are aware of plan by some people to manipulate this process by compelling the voters to snap their ballot papers and present such as receipt for money given to entice and induce them. That’s unacceptable and we won’t allow it.”
The REC urged politicians to sensitise their followers to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card to enable them vote. He lamented that the rate of PVC collection was low and appealed to those that have registered to ensure that they collect their PVC.