The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun said it has secured the conviction of nine persons arrested for vote buying in the state.

The INEC resident electoral commissioner in Osun, Mutiu Agboke, disclosed this on Monday during a radio programme in Osogbo, the state capital.

Mr Agboke said the commission is working tirelessly to ensure a free, fair, and credible election in the state when residents go to the polls for the state gubernatorial election later in the year.

He said, however, that the commission needs the support of stakeholders and the media to ensure the election is successful.

The official urged participating political parties in the Osun election to abide by INEC rules and regulations, rather than disrupting the poll.

On the ongoing INEC continuous voter registration (CVR), Mr Agboke said the commission has updated its machines to prevent duplicate registrations.

He added that the commission would also arrest anyone discovered to have or attempted multiple registrations.

The INEC REC called for media cooperation to curb misinformation, saying that facts and information should be verified with the commission before publication.

He said he has instructed that all media professionals in Osun be included in a WhatsApp group created by the state commission’s spokesperson, Musa Olurode, to have access to INEC’s activities.

Mr Agboke, however, said he would take legal action against any journalist or media outlet that publishes or reports defamatory or untrue news about the commission without verification.

(NAN)