- Safiu Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun has secured the conviction of nine suspects arrested for vote buying in the state.
Dr. Mutiu Agboke, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, disclosed this on Monday while answering questions on a radio programme in Osogbo.
Agboke described the prosecution of the suspected vote buyers as part of the commission’s efforts to ensure there is free, fair and credible election in the state, when residents go to the polls for the state gubernatorial election later in the year.
He however called for the support of stakeholders, and the media to ensure the election is successful.
The INEC Electoral Commissioner urged participating political parties in the Osun election to abide by INEC rules and regulations, rather than disrupting the poll.
On the ongoing INEC Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), Agboke said that the commission has updated their machines to prevent double or multiple registrations.
He added that the commission would also arrest anyone discovered to have or attempting multiple registration.
The INEC REC called for media cooperation to control misinformation, saying that facts and information should be verified from the commission before certain news is published.
He said that he has instructed that all media professionals in Osun are included in a Whatsapp group created by the state commission’s spokesperson, Mr Musa Olurode, to have access to their activities.
Agboke, however, said that he would take legal action against any journalist or media outfit that writes or reports any defamatory or untrue news against the commission without verification.