Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is prepared to monitor the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election scheduled to hold on Saturday in Ondo state.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, said that the commission was not only prepared for the APC primary, but also for that of the 17 other political parties contesting the Nov. 16 governorship election.
Babalola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Thursday that 18 political parties had notified the commission of their intentions to conduct governorship primary elections in the state.
According to the REC, as an election management body, our role is to monitor the activities of the political parties and to ensure that they conduct the primaries in accordance with the provisions of the law.
“We are empowered by the constitution under Section 153 and paragraph F (15) of the third schedule to monitor the activities of the political parties, which include the conduct of their congresses, conventions and primaries.
“So, as regards to the APC primary coming up on Saturday, which the party has adopted direct method of primary, we are ready for the monitoring.
“Our people are on the field, we are ready to cover the primary and we will make sure we report according to what we see on ground,” Babalola said.
Commenting on the reported incident of arrest of some agents of an aspirant issuing fake APC membership cards, Babalola said that only political parties could differentiate between an authentic and fake party cards.
The REC, who admonished all the political parties to play according to their party’s constitution guidelines and electoral process, said that officials of the commission would be unbiased in their role.
She implored the parties to provide a level playing ground for their aspirants.
“I will advice all political parties to play according to the rules of the parties and not to encourage any form of violence.
“And political parties should not allow hate speech that is capable of heating up the polity,” Babalola said. (NAN)