The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has urged political parties to step up efforts to mobilize eligible voters across the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the February 21 Area Councils election.
Amupitan spoke during INEC’s regular quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Thursday.
He encouraged party officials to ensure voters collect their Permanent Voter Cards.
With the distribution exercise set to conclude on February 10, the INEC chairman said the goal is to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
He also warned political leaders and their supporters against engaging in hate speech, violence, or vote-buying in the upcoming election, adding that political parties are indispensable partners in deepening electoral participation.
“I, therefore, urge you to intensify your efforts in mobilising residents across the FCT Area Councils to collect their PVCs,” he said, adding “let me be clear, vote-buying is a subversion of the democratic will and a violation of the law.
“Any individual or group found engaging in this practice will face the full weight of the law”.