The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Prof. Abdulganiyu Raji, has raised the alarm over receiving constant strange, threatening calls and text messages who politicians in the state.
Raji said, “Most of these threats are from elders alleging that we are one-sided.
“But they have forgotten that there are two sides to a coin, if you don’t want INEC to do some things, you too must be cautious. How could a party go and induce INEC members of staff? This is unacceptable.
“We will use over 10,000 youth corps members for this election, can all of them be saints? Some will misbehave but we have to use an appropriate way to deal with them.
“Let me assure you this, I have told you that I will abide by the rules and I know my members of staff will comply with my stand,” he assured.
Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Forum in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, Raji said no fewer than 23 political parties had formally notified the commission of their primaries.
He, however, said only 21 out of the 42 political parties existing in Ekiti were qualified to participate in the July 14 governorship poll.
He appealed to all security agencies in the state to come to the aid of the commission by fortifying security around INEC officials as well as the over 10,000 corps members to be used for the conduct of the election.
The state Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Chafe, warned political parties and aspirants participating in the July 14 gubernatorial election against embarking on campaigns without first seeking clearance.
He said this was without prejudice to the need for cooperation with other agencies.
According to him, other security agencies are also to enforce the laws guiding such rallies and processions, particularly those specified in sections 94, 95 and 96 of the Electoral Act 2010 that forbid certain conduct at political rallies, procession and campaigns.
He warned that since punishments were prescribed for misconduct, the police and other security agencies had a duty to arrest erring persons and bring them to justice.
The police boss, who announced that he would be retiring from the service on the very day the APC would be conducting its gubernatorial primary on May 5, 2018, clarified that a new police commissioner to be soon deployed, would start from where he would end.
He said the command was ready for the election, and that security of lives and property of residents and officials were guaranteed.
