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Ahead of the September gubernatorial polls in Edo State, no fewer than 3,000 voters have been de-registered over alleged multiple registrations. Besides, about 474,000 persons who were yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs. Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Edo State, Mr Sam Olumekun,discloed this, while reading the riot acts to the political parties in the state. Olumekun urged them to stick to INEC rules governing political campaigns and threatened that the electoral umpire would wield the big stick on any political party involved in hate campaigns. He spoke at a stakeholders meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES’ The state INEC boss gave the assurance that he would ensure a level playing field for all the participating parties as he was poised to conduct ‘’the most peaceful and violent free election that will serve as a model to other states’’. He added: “From our records, 3000 voters have been de-registered in the state for engaging in multiple registrations. And one bad aspect of it also is that we have 474,000 persons who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs’’. Speaking , the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, said his men were ready for the election, warning politicians to refrain from engaging thugs to do the battle for them, insisting that “ anybody involved in violence will be dealt with.’’