Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega has called for the removal of campaign billboards in Osun State.
He said the erection of the bill boards was illegal as it contravened the Electoral Act.
Jega spoke yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, at a stakeholders’ forum with the representatives of political parties.
According to him, erecting bill boards before the time stipulated by the law was an electoral offence and attracts stiff penalty.
Meanwhile, the meeting was almost marred by protests as representatives of some parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), demanded the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Rufus Akeju, before they staged a walk out on the meeting.
Representatives of over 20 parties, civil society organisations and traders were however, present at the meeting.
The INEC boss assured them that the August 9 poll would be credible.
On the call for the REC’s removal, Jega said no official accused of partisanship would be removed or redeployed unless evidence is provided to back the allegations.
He said INEC has learnt lessons from the Anambra election and pleaded with stakeholders to support the commission to conduct a free and fair poll.
Secretary of the Inter-party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, Peter Ameh urged parties to shun destructive criticisms
Akeju noted that INEC was sensitising the general public on the electoral process.
