Ahead of the 2019 general elections the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kwara, Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami, has cautioned students of the University of Ilorin not to be used to foment violence during and after the general elections in the state.
The REC gave the advice Tuesday in Ilorin while addressing students of the university on the coming general elections in the state.
“You should refuse to be used as political thugs to foment trouble before, during and after the elections.
“Tell the politicians who approach you to be their thugs to make use of their children,” he said.
Attahiru-Madami said students are very vulnerable and can easily be lured with money to cause trouble during the elections.
He appealed to the students not to campaign for any political party within the premises of the polling units.
Attahiru-Madami warned that any student caught campaigning on the day of the election would be arrested and prosecuted.
He said students should go to the polling units on Election Day with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to cast their votes for candidates of their choice and be peaceful.
The REC called on students, who were yet collect their PVCs to do so, on or before Feb 8, the last day for the exercise.
“Your PVC is your weapon to elect leaders of your choice, leaders that will bring dividends of democracy to you.”
He assured the university community of INEC readiness to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable elections which, he said, would be adjudged the best in the country.
He cautioned them against selling their PVCs for any amount, stressing that if they should trade their PVCs for paltry sum of money, they would be mortgaging their future.
The REC disclosed that 1, 130, 266 PVCs had so far been collected out of the 1, 406, 457 registered PVCs in the state.
Attahiru-Madami expressed optimism that sizeable number out of the remaining 277, 184 uncollected PVCs would be collected before the Feb 8 deadline for the exercise.
He also said that on Election Day, no camera or phone would be allowed into the voting cubicle, saying voters will leave their phones with the Presiding Officers and collect same back after dropping their ballot papers.
“Food is not allowed in the premises of the polling areas, voters are advised to eat before coming to vote.
“This is to discourage vote buying by politicians, because bringing food to voters at the polling unit amounts to influencing voters to vote for their candidates.”
The REC also said that no vehicle would be allowed at the polling units, adding that politicians might capitalise on that to bring money in the vehicle to buy voters.