48 political parties for Osun guber poll, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 48 political parties have fielded candidates for the September 22 governorship elections in Osun State.The electoral umpire reassured the people of the state of a hitch-free exercise, saying the election would serve as a test laboratory for next year’s general elections.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who spoke yesterday during a consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja, charged them to ensure transparency in the conduct of their primaries in both the Osun and general elections.

Yakubu emphasised that a free and credible election begins with a transparent internal party primaries and cautioned them against the submission of parallel lists of candidates for the various elective positions.

He said INEC has no reason to reject the name of any candidate submitted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of any political party through their national chairmen, vowing that the commission would make a definitive statement on vote buying with the Osun election.He stated that INEC, in collaboration with security agencies, would make arrests and prosecute those found wanting, stressing that the menace cannot be carried to the general elections.