About 76 percent of permanent voters cards have so far been distributed to eligible voters in Kwara state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Kwara state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo, made this known on Saturday while speaking with newsmen shortly after a peace walk organised by the Commission to sensitise residents of the state ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Onucheyo, who said INEC was ready to conduct free, fair and transparent elections, added that peace was non-negotiable in achieving credible polls.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner allayed fears that the elections would be marred with violence, reiterating that people should come out and cast their votes for candidates of their choice.

Onucheyo urged politicians to embark on voter education rather than arming the thugs to cause unrest during the elections.

He also urged youths to resist being used to perpetrate political violence in the interest of peace accord entered into by political parties.

Also, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Salihu Garuba, said the command was prepared to contain any violence ahead of the elections and warned hoodlums to steer clear of the state in their own interest.

The Commissioner advised politicians to caution their supporters against any form of political unrest.

Speaking in the same vein, the Ilorin branch Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association, Mobolaji Ojibara, urged the people of the state to participate actively in the forthcoming elections to effect quality leadership in the country.

The peace walk, which took off at Police A Division, moved to Maraba motor park where motorists and shop owners were urged to resist violence in the elections, and ended at A Division.