The United Progressives Party (UPP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to remain fair in the Aug. 11 Bauchi South Senatorial bye election.

In a statemen, Alhaji Musa Mato the Bauchi state chairman of the party mad this known, on Saturday, in Bauchi.

‎“We call on INEC to remain neutral to all political parties that fielded candidates for the Bauchi South Senatorial election. ‎

“By favouring any political party in any form, no matter how small is tantamount to cause disaffection to other political parties.

“INEC should give equal treatment to all candidates,” Mato said. ‎

According to him, what happens in ‎the bye-election will be a yardstick to what will happen in the 2019 general election. ‎

Mato also called on security agencies in the state to provide the needed security during the election. ‎

He called on party supporters to remain law abiding, urging them to promote the ideologies of the UPP.

He also advised them to collect their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) which he said is the only weapon in the democratic process.

Mato added that “UPP will not take part in the bye-election instead; it will support a credible candidate from another political party if there is any. ‎

“As you may know, the UPP was registered on Oct. 2, 2012 by INEC and since then, it is recognised as the most peaceful opposition political party, not only ‎in Bauchi state, but in Nigeria as a whole.

“UPP participated fully in the 2015 general election where it fielded candidates for most of the elective positions including a governorship candidate in the ‎state,” he said. ‎

The bye election is to fill the vacuum created by the death of Sen. Ali Wakili in March.

NAN