The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, during a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, on Wednesday disclosed that the commission is set to conduct a free and fair election in Osun State.

The INEC chairman said that all machinery to conduct a credible election have been put in place and that they are collaborating with relevant agencies.

“We are working closely with security agents to ensure that the people are protected as they exercise their civic responsibility and also to ensure that our materials and personnel are also protected. It is regrettable that in our country, we still have serious concern related to thuggery and other electoral violence. We are trying to ensure that this election is conducted peacefully under an atmosphere which will enable voters to come out and exercise their civic duties. We must ensure that we secure the electoral process so that voters will be free to exercise their franchise.”

To eradicate fraudulent practices on Saturday, Jega said all ballot papers to be used would be serialised and coded. He also said result sheets would be customised according to council areas.

Jega explained that the colour coding that will be used in Osun is different from what was used in the Ekiti State election. “On the day we are going to distribute sensitive election materials, which is on Thursday (today), we will give a colour coded map to each of the political parties agents so that they can see the different colours of ballot papers in different local governments.”

“Since 2011 when we conducted the general elections, we have ensured that our ballot papers are serially numbered. In Nigeria, we know that when ballot papers were not serially numbered like in the 2007 presidential election, we had a situation where people could move ballot papers from one place to another and used them for election purposes. We have dealt with that problem and we will keep improving on the integrity of our election materials,” said Jega.

On the secrecy of the election, the INEC boss urged voters to shun a call by one of the political parties to take photograph of the ballot papers after thumb printing on it, warning that such act was illegal.

“The secrecy of the ballot is very important and we must ensure that it is protected. The Electoral Act gives INEC the mandate to ensure that the secrecy of the ballot is protected. I was told that a political party had asked its supporters to take photograph of the ballot paper after voting on Saturday. I will ask every voter to disregard that order because it is illegal. You cannot go to a polling unit with a camera and take photograph of your ballot paper; that violates the secrecy of the election.”

He argued electorate to go to their polling units and conduct themselves in a respectable way