‘Shun corruption, maintain decorum’ – Kwara INEC boss challenges politicians

Nigerian politicians have been advised to play politics with decorum, shun corruption and be ready to make sacrifice for the development of the country. The Kwara State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Garba Attairu Madami, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria.

The  Electoral Commissioner said politicians and political parties should always endeavour to settle amicably for the country to move forward, adding that Kwara should be great if all the politicians shelf their ego.

He assured that on his part, he would sustain the integrity, commitment, and the confidence reposed in him with which he conducted the 2019 General Elections in Kwara State to conduct the 2023 Elections.

Mallam Madami said the INEC will not intervene in internal democracy or  wranglings of Political Parties in the country, adding that the Commission would only recognize Candidates recognized by the National Executives of Individual Political Parties.

Answering question on the funding of the Elections, the Commissioner explained that there is no problem of fund as INEC is self independent, and it collects its funds directly from the CBN.

On the issue of Direct and` Indirect primary, he said the Mallam Garba Attairu Madami is fully in support of Direct primary, describing it as the cornerstone of Democracy.

The REC said the Commission has a lot of activities on hand called Election Circle involving continuous voter’s registration exercise, and distribution of Permanent Voter’s Card, which he said were very important in election process.

According to him, Continuous Voters Registration is what is used to determine creation of Polling Units across the country, adding that the Resident Electoral Commissioners have been given powers to create more Polling units based on the registration of Voters in their various State, adding that Kwara State currently has Two thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty Seven polling units across the state.

He enjoined eligible voters to go out to register their names, while those who have registered should go out to collect their Permanent Voter Cards to be able to vote during elections.

Mallam Madami called on NGOs and Civil Society Organizations to assist INEC in enlightening the people on the importance of Voters Registration Exercise.

Suzan O.