The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured residents of Sokoto State that Saturday’s National Assembly supplementary election will be free, fair and credible.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting held on Thursday at the party secretariat, the INEC National Commissioner for the election, Modibo Alkali, assured that the exercise in Sokoto will be one of the best in the country.
Alkali also insisted that all parties including their agents must adhere to the rules of the game, stressing that the commission was poised to support the advancement of democracy and democratic processes.
“We will not waiver our responsibility to doing the needful. We want as much as possible to avoid any confusion in order to safeguard against issues and misunderstandings.
“Parties should ensure that only one agent or representative is to each PU.
“We don’t want to experience any loss of life or bloodletting as we witnessed some disruption and disturbance at some PUs in the last exercise,” he said.
Alkali, flanked by the Acting REC, Barrister Hauwa Kangiwa, and other top officials of the commission, urged party leaders and stalwarts to educate their supporters and members to be on peaceful conduct during the exercise.
He said INEC remained a neutral body and assured that the security agencies were adequately in synergy to provide needed security throughout the exercise.
“We are holding a second leg of such a meeting with all security agencies to harmonise measures towards a successful supplementary election conduct in the state.”
However, representatives of all registered political parties in the state in attendance pledged to abide by the rules of the game.