The Katsina State Chapter of the Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, has called on the Katsina State Police Command and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure compliance with the peace accord signed by candidates and political parties in the state ahead of the March 18 governorship and House of Assembly polls.
The group also urged them to ensure neutrality and maintain professionalism while discharging their duties during the forthcoming elections.
The State Coordinator, Katsina TMG, Dr Kamaludeen Kabir, made the appeal when its members stopped over at the command’s headquarter during a rally organised to mobilise residents in the state to turnout en masse to vote and ensure their votes count.
Similarly, Kamaludeen appealed to INEC and the police over the issue of late arrival of election officials and materials to polling units as well as the lapses or technical issues associated with the BVAS.
He urged them not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that all the problems observed during the Presidential and National Assembly elections becomes a thing of the past as the state goes to the poll again on Saturday.
Responding, the Command’s spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, who represented the Police Commissioner on Election Duty to the State, CP Kolo Yusuf, commended TMG for embarking on the mobilisation and sensitisation exercise, urging them to cascade it down to all the nooks and crannies of the state.
CP Kolo assured that the command will keep vigilance to ensure that all political parties in the state adhere to the peace accord agreement so as to ensure a peaceful and hitch free conduct of the forthcoming elections in Katsina.
On their part, INECs Head of Voters Education and Publicity in Katsina, Alhaji Sa’idu Shehu, appreciated the efforts of the group for its continual support services to the Commission.
On the issue of the late reporting of election officials or materials to the polling centres, Saidu assured that the commission is on top of the situation, assuring that nothing of such will be heard during the forthcoming elections, God’s willing.
According to Saidu, the postponement of the elections has given the commission ample time to put things in order, reiterating that all the problems have been identified and have been solved.
Saidu assured Katsina TMG that “the commission is dedicated to ensuring that election is conducted in the most freest and conducive atmosphere. So that every voter will be able to vote and cast their votes according to the civil rights enshrined in Nigeria’s constitutions.”