The Abia State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Joseph Iloh, yesterday, said that the commission was 99 per cent ready to conduct free and fair poll to fill the vacant position of the representative for Aba North and South Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The position became vacant following the death of Ossy Prestige of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who was serving a second term.

Six political parties, namely APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), APGA, Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and National Rescue Movement (NRM) presented candidates/contestants for the election.

Their all-male candidates are Mascot Uzor Kalu for APC, Chimaobi Ebisike (PDP), Nwagwu Destiny (APGA), Longinus Prestige (AA), Abraham Okogbua (APM), and Uwandu Chima for NRM.

Iloh, who spoke with The Guardian in his office yesterday on INEC’s readiness for the scheduled Saturday, March 27 poll, said the electoral body had provided level-playing ground for all the contestants and their parties and also done the needful that would produce credible results.

“We have completed training and addressed the logistics. We, therefore, urge eligible voters to turn out early and cast their votes.”

The REC urged the security agencies to do the needful to ensure security before, during, and after voting.

He also implored the state government to restrict vehicular and other unnecessary movements within Obingwa, Osisioma-Ngwa, Ugwunagbo, Aba North, and Aba South local councils.

According to him, while a peace accord was signed with all the contestants and the political parties to which they agreed to strictly abide by the decision of the meeting organised by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee scheduled to hold towards ensuring peaceful and credible polls.

MEANWHILE, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Janet Agbede, has warned residents against violating the extant rules and guidelines for election.

She said: “The Saturday poll is a compact one that should not pose problems but anybody caught doing anything against the peaceful conduct of the election would be prosecuted.”

But in their individual comments on the poll, state chairmen of APC, Donatus Nwankpa and PDP, Asiforo Okere, said they had nothing yet to complain but warned against any act that would stoke tension.