The replacement of the temporary registration voters' slips issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to eligible voters during voters' registration exercise of last year September starts today. The temporary slips were issued to voters of voting age by INEC officials in lieu of permanent cards that were not available then.

Thus, the exercise which takes place three days, holds between April 8, 9 and 10. It means so much to the nation. A fraud free replacement exercise will show how clean the conduct of the coming general elections will be.

We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be mindful of the way the exercise goes. We remember that collusion of some INEC officials with some politicians to steal voters' slips last year led to the electoral body taking disciplinary steps against erring staff.

However, the exercise commencing today demands extra vigilance. Though, it is a belated exercise, having been delayed and now coming too close to the National Assembly elections of April 12, it behoves on INEC to rebuild a new confidence in Nigerians, of its determination to conduct a clean slate election. Politicians see period like this as one that affords them the opportunity of perfecting their rigging strategy by trying to have as many voters' cards with phoney names as possible.

Dr. Gabriel Okafor, INEC's Resident Commissioner in Osun State disclosed recently that out of 1.98 million voters' in the state, 342,548 of the figure engaged in double registration. Those names have been disqualified from voting.

We know that similar instance abounds in the remaining 35 states of the federation and Abuja. Without doubt, some unscrupulous Nigerian politicians are holding the temporary slips of these phantom voters whose non-existing names are to be used to collect the permanent voters' cards in the on-going replacement exercise. If this is allowed, it portends a dangerous signal to a conduct of complaint-free election this Saturday and the one after.

INEC must be vigilant so that some of these disqualified names are not issued permanent voters' cards. This would create the problem of voters complaining of not being allowed to vote despite their possession of the permanent cards on the election day. This will put credibility crisis on the entire election which is why INEC must ensure that those whose names have been deleted from the final list are not issued the permanent cards.

Whoever is caught trying to commit any illegality during this voters' cards replacement exercise must be made to face the full wrath of the law as provided for in Section 14 of the Electoral Act 2002.

However, where INEC is unable to conclude the exercise in a way that will guarantee free and fair elections, voters should be allowed to vote with the slips.

We call on eligible Nigerian voters to come out en masse and collect their permanent voters' cards. It is the only weapon through which they can make constructive change to governmental structure. The available time for doing this is so short, which is why committed attitude must be exhibited by Nigerians to this INEC project.