Kwara Holds Council Polls Saturday

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

All is now set in Kwara State   Saturday  to conduct election of chairmen and councilors into the 16 local government councils areas of the state as the state Independent Electoral Commission (KWASEIC) has distributed all the needed electoral materials for the polls to all the various parts of the state.

Already, the state police command has deployed over 4,000 officers to all the strategic locations in the state to maintain law and order.

The state police command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi who spoke with our correspondent yesterday in Ilorin said that, the state police command was fully set to ensure a hitch-free councils poll in the state, however warned that, the state police command would not condone any act capable of threatening the peaceful conduct of the poll.
A visit of our correspondent to the state headquarters of the KWASEIC located along Fate road, Iorin on Friday showed that, electoral materials were being distributed to electoral officers to be taken to various local government council’s headquarters for the council poll.

Vehicles that will convey the electoral materials were seen stationed at the premises of the state electoral body with each manned by security personnel to avoid any diversion of the electoral materials.
The state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has assured the voters in the state adequate protection so as to allow them exercise their franchise during the poll.

Ahmed made the assurance during a security meeting held with all the leaders of security agencies in the state at the Government House, Ilorin as part of effort to ensure that the council election hold without any hitch.
The security agencies in attendance at the security meeting with the governor include Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security and Defence Corps and Nigeria Air Force.

The political parties had also signed a peace pact with the state independent electoral commission and security agencies in the state so as to abide with the outcome of the poll.

The campaigns across the state have stopped on Thursday night in line with the rules and regulations that guide the conduct of the poll in the state.

Speaking on the preparation for the council election, the state chairman of the Peoples Democractic Party, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo said that, the party was set to be part of the council poll adding that, the state independent electoral commission must ensure that proper accreditation is allowed before allowing any voting to take place during the election.

He said that, the party had directed all its agents to be vigilant and report any alleged electoral malpractices that may likely happen during the poll to the appropriate security agencies at their electoral duty.
Oyedepo therefore called on the voters to come out and cast their votes to the candidates of their choice so as to enhance the growth of the grassroots administration.

The All Progressives Congress(APC) on its part said that, the party is fully prepared for the election.
The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari said that, the party had deployed their agents to all the various polling booths in the state.

He therefore said that, the voters should come out enmasse to cast their votes without any fear as security is on ground to ensure the smooth conduct of the poll.

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