56 political parties ready for 2019 elections -INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 56 political parties out of the 91 registered parties in the country are set to participate in the 2019 general election.

Obo Effanga, the resident electoral commissioner in charge of Rivers, said this during a media briefing on Friday in Port Harcourt.

He said INEC was interested in all the 91 registered political parties, adding that the commission would only deal with political parties that registered for the election in 2019.

The REC assured Rivers people that the commission was ready to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2019, stressing that “we assure you that on the day of the elections, every material needed for the elections would be ready to ensure free, fair and credible process”.

Effanga said any voter who is not accredited by the card reader will not be allowed to vote. He explained that provisions would be made if the card reader developed any hitch in the process.

He called on community leaders to advise their youth against disrupting the elections, saying INEC will not conduct elections in a violent area.

The REC urged stakeholders to play their part properly, saying security agencies, the political class, among others, should ensure that the 2019 general elections were successful.

He stressed that any politician who would have objections of any kind concerning the 2019 general elections should go to court to seek redress.

He called on the electorate to pick up their permanent voter cards at their areas of registration to enable them to exercise their franchise on the day of the election.