An INEC card reader in operation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assembled more than 1,500 card readers for the Dec. bye-election in Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency to achieve seamless exercise.

Mr Clement Oha, the Administrative Secretary of the commission, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday that the number was twice higher than the number needed for the election.

NAN reports that the bye-election is as a result of the death of Mr Elijah Adewale, who represented the constituency in the House of Representatives.

Adewale died in Abuja on July 20.

Oha said that there were only 687 polling units in the constituency.

“We have prepared a good number of card readers for the election. We have assembled more than 1,500 card readers for accreditation of eligible voters.

“We are charging these card readers and taking adequate steps to ensure that none of them fails. If any fails, because they are machine, we will fix it, or replace immediately.

“We have made adequate preparations; card readers have helped us to reduce multiple voting,” he said.

Oha gave the assurance that INEC would provide a level playing ground for all political parties to enable a free and fair election.

The INEC boss urged all political parties and their leaders to advise there supporters against violence.

“My message is that all parties should observe the rules as contained in the electoral Act; let us eschew violence, crisis and any acts capable of marring the poll.

“Violence in electoral process can only lead to election not concluded within a period provided by law.

“If the environment is conducive and everyone conducts himself or herself in accordance with the law, we can assure residents that, on our part, we will not fail in our mandate,” Oha said.

NAN report that the commission, on Nov. 4, held an interactive meeting with leaders of political parties at the headquarters of INEC in the state to give notice of the bye election.

The commission said that accreditation and voting would hold simultaneously.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Akintunde Fadayomi, on Saturday expressed  optimism that the APC would win the bye-election.

Fadayomi, the Chairman of APC in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the APC had been able to sell itself adequately to the members of the constituency.

According to him, the party is fully on ground and admired by most of the residents.

“Even if all opposition parties form an alliance, we are going to defeat them.

“We will work hard to put our new candidate in the position formerly occupied by our party before the demise of Mr Elijah Adewale,” he said.

The chairman said that the party would unite all its members including those who might feel unhappy about the outcome of the party’s primary election held on Friday.

Fadayomi urged the party members to leave their differences behind and work together for the party’s victory.

NAN reports that Mr Nurudeen Akinwunmi on Friday defeated Mr Adisa Owolabi to emerge the winner of the APC primary election for the bye-election.

The Chairman of the APC Primary Election Organising Committee, Mr Ismael Ahmed, said that Akinwunmi polled 219 votes to defeat Owolabi who secured 166 votes.

According to him, 392 delegates were screened for the poll from 11 wards that made up the federal constituency.

He said that the total number of votes cast was 388, out of which 385 were valid and three invalid.

An official of INEC in the state, Mrs Bose Oluwatomisin, had told NAN, “It was free and fair and the atmosphere was peaceful.

“There was internal democracy, the election had no rancour, though there is always room for improvement.”