Interference
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, June 7, 2018 (NAN) Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Oyo State, on Thursday warned politicians to stop interfering in the constitutional duty of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or risk jail.
Agboke gave the warning in Ibadan at the presentation of certificate of return to Mr Adebo Ogundoyin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who won the Ibarapa East State Constituency by-election.
The Oyo State REC also called on Nigerians to change their view about INEC as the commission would ensure that the right thing would be done.
“We mean it, even if it is INEC’s staff or ad-hoc staff that is disturbing the commission from doing the right thing, such a person must be ready to go to jail.
“If you don’t want to go to jail in any of the commission’s electioneering activities, you should follow the due process, stop hijacking ballot papers and allow INEC to do its work.
“ The neutrality demonstrated by INEC and security agencies in the just concluded Ibarapa East State Constituency election has demonstrated the sincerity of INEC in conducting a free, fair and credible election in 2019,’’ Agboke said.
He urged politicians to shun the idea of creating unnecessary tension where there was none, adding that shunning such practices would make the 2019 elections to be credible.
In his remarks, Ogundoyin promised to contribute his quota to the development of his constituency and party.
The winner of Ibarapa East State Constituency seat also promised to build good relations with other members of the Oyo State House of Assembly irrespective of party affiliation.
He said that working together would enable every member of the house to achieve greater result for their various constituencies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the by-election was occasioned by the death of Hon. Michael Adeyemo who had represented the constituency.
The late Adeyemo was also the Speaker of the House until his death. (NAN)
SYS/JEO/OJO
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(Edited by Janefrances Oraka/Mufutau Ojo)