INEC releases statement ahead of Saturday’s elections

Press statement from INEC ahead of Saturday
Gubernatorial elections..
The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) has received reports that
some political leaders are asking members of
the public to disregard its stated resolve to
use Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Smart
Card Readers (SCRs) for the April 11,
2015Governorship and State Assembly
elections.A particular state governor in the
North Central geo-political zone is reported to
have assured voters in the state that they
could come out to vote on Election Day with
Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) if they do not
have the PVC, and that INEC will not be
allowed to insist on the use of SCRs for voter
accreditation.
Members of the public are strongly advised
to disregard false assurances that contradict
the regulations INEC has outlined for the
Governorship and State Assembly elections.
The Commission reaffirms that only voters
with genuine PVCs should come out to the
polling units on Election Day, and that
guidelines issued on the use of SCRs for the
April 11 elections will be strictly applied. Any
action infringing these guidelines will be an
electoral offence, and security agents will be
on hand to apprehend offenders.
The Commission commends Nigerian voters
for their peaceful conduct and exemplary
resilience, even in the face of minor
challenges, during the Presidential and
National Assembly elections on March 28,
2015. It, however, considers it unfortunate
that some leaders would misguide the public
and thereby prepare ground for needless
disruptions to the polling process on April
11. INEC hereby warns that any obstruction
to the processes it has put in place for the
elections by any person, no matter how
highly placed, will constitute an electoral
offence punishable in law.
Meanwhile, the Commission has assigned the
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of
Kogi State, Alhaji Hussaini Halilu Pai, to
supervise the conduct of the Governorship
and State Assembly elections in Kano State,
following the tragic demise of Alhaji Minkala
Abdullahi last weekend. Before his posting as
FCT REC, Alhaji Pai was Ekiti State REC, who
conducted the Governorship Election of June
21, 2014.
Kayode Robert Idowu
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman