Asaba- The INEC Resident Electoral Commission in Delta, Mr Aniedi-Abasi Ikiowak, said on Monday that 700,000 permanent voters’ cards had not been collected by their owners in the state.
Ikiowak made the revelation in Asaba during and interactive session with representatives of political parties in the state.
He said that additional 500,000 cards would be ready for distribution in the state this week.
He said the additional belonged to those who registered during the last continuous registration exercise conducted last year.
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The commissioner reminded the representatives of the political parties that this year’s general elections would be anchored on the number of voters’ cards distributed and not on the number of voters registered.
He urged the political parties to educate their supporters who had not collected their cards on the need to do so without delay.
The commissioner said that only those with their cards would vote at the elections while distribution of the cards would end on Jan. 30.
He explained that the early distribution was to enable the commission to have time to compile the total number of cards distributed in the state which would be given to the parties before the elections.
Ikiowak said the Independent National Electoral Commission would ensure free, fair and credible elections in the state.
He said the commission would employ 21,000 ad-hoc staff for the Feb. 14 and Feb. 28 general elections.
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Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Usman Alkali, admonished the political parties to ensure that their campaigns were issue-based and to avoid campaign of calumny.
Alkali urged the party representatives to ensure that they and their supporters obeyed the electoral laws during the polls.
He said the Delta police command was partnering with INEC and other security agencies to ensure peaceful elections in the state.
Fifteen political parties, including the ruling PDP, APC, APGA and Accord Party were represented at the meeting. (NAN)
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