We are ready for free, fair elections, says Adamawa REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Alhaji Kassim Geidam, said the commission was fully prepared for free and fair elections in the state from today.

Kassim, who spoke at a stakeholders meeting attended by all the security chiefs in the state, added that INEC would ensure that all contestants and voters are treated strictly according the provisions of the laws guiding conduct of elections and the commission would not tolerate any attempt by contestants or supporters to manipulate its staff for favour.

He assured the stakeholders that the electoral body would be unbiased and independent in all its decisions during and after the elections, disclosing that all materials for today’s elections would arrive the polling units before the voting hour.

To ensure a violence-free exercise, the state Police Command has deployed 7,700 officers in the 21 councils and on 24-hour patrol to respond to any act that is against the law.

The Command Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar, urged Adamawa residents not entertain any fear of been molested by hoodlums, pointing out that his men were fully on ground to take care of those wanting to foment trouble during and after the elections.

When The Guardian visited INEC office located along Bank road, over 200 heavily armed policemen, officers of the Department of State Security (DSS) and Civil Defense Corps were positioned in strategy areas within and outside the premises.

Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, in a statement, urged the people to vote freely and not indulged in unlawful activities capable of destabilising the peace of the state.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, charged his supporters to be law-abiding and avoid any act that violates the provisions of constitution.

He stressed that election is a game and both contestants and their supporters should imbibe the culture sportsmanship, saying that violence is not part of the game and should not be employed by any party to cause chaos in the country.