Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega

We are prepared, says INEC

Chuks Okocha, Senator Iroegbu and Grace Chimezie in Abuja ʉ۬

Ahead of Saturday area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that 13 political parties would be contesting for the polls

The political parties contesting in the election are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All

INEC further  stated that it was prepared to conduct  a hitch-free election that would be devoid of rancour and acrimony.

The position of the commission was disclosed by the  Resident Electoral Commissioner in the FCT, Dr. Godwin Kwanga,  yesterday  during the stakeholders' forum in Abuja.

According to him,  "We have engaged political parties in the FCT all through the reparations. We have released the 2013 FCT voters’ register to the political parties in order to ensure transparency in the process. The 13 political parties contesting the 2013 area council elections have indeed behaved themselves very well.

"This week, we are faced with our own challenge to produce good, free, fair and credible elections that will be seen to reflect the aspirations of the people. When we started planning this year's Area Council elections in June last year, we were confident that we will receive the support and cooperation of not only the national headquarters of the commission but also all other stakeholders in the FCT.

"We have not been disappointed so far. We can report that all the necessary materials to ensure the conduct of elections have been received and duly deposited in the respective area councils of the commission."

He disclosed that all stakeholders have given INEC enough encouragement, adding that since the release of the schedule of activities for the commission in November last year, "our interaction with the political, parties and other stakeholders in the FCT has been quite rewarding."

Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), among others.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who was represented by Mrs. Thelma Iremiren, assured that adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure a conducive  and safe environment for those who come out to vote.

"We will not condone any act of voilence or indiscipline," he said.

"We also call on voters to be early at their polling station to ensure they are accredited on time as their would be a time frame for which accreditation  would commence and individuals would be prevented from voting for late  arrival," he added.

Earlier, FCT Commissioner of Police, Femi Ogunbayode assured that enough  security personnels would be involved to ensure the maintenance of law and order and safety of citizens to ensure a free and fair election.

According to Ogunbayode: "Lessons have been learnt from previous loopholes  and everything has been put in place for such lapses not to occur again.

Similarly, the Residential Electoral Commissioner FCT, Dr Godwin Kwanga  promised that as a way to prevent logistics problems the Commission would send  materials a day before the election with strong security as to ensure a free and  fair election.

Kwanga also urged parents to talk to their wards so they would not be used by political miscreants who do not have the interest of their wards at hand.