INEC, Police Ready For Supplementary Polls In Taraba, Abia, Imo

ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, assured that it was set to deliver credible elections at the rescheduled supplementary governorship polls in Taraba, Abia and Imo states, slated for tomorrow.

Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the commission, Mr Kayode Idowu, told the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja,

on Thursday, that all the needed materials for the smooth conduct of the supplementary polls in affected states had been duly delivered, while the required officials had also been fully mobilised and trained for the exercise.

Idowu, however, ruled out the possibility of the chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, relocating to one of the states to personally conduct the supplementary polls as being agitated by the stakeholders in the affected states.

Rather than relocating to any of the affected three states to personally conduct the poll, Idowu said Professor Jega would remain at the situation room at the headquarters, Abuja, to monitor the conduct of the polls.

Idowu pointed out the permanent voter cards (PVCs) and card readers would be used for the accreditation of the voters for the polls and advised those without the PVCs not to go near the voting centres to avoid arrest.

Also, the police have restated commitment to ensure the success of the polls in the three affected states.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, the new acting Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, said the police would deal with troublemakers during the election.

Asked about his presence in the Villa, he said “well, first and foremost, we still have some elections left in about three states and we are doing some massive deployment of men and material and that is what I came to brief the Commander-in-Chief.

“I can assure you that we are going to have a level playing field for people who want to vote on Election Day. For the deviants, like I said yesterday (Wednesday), they will be decisively dealt with.”

Resident Electoral Commissioner in Taraba Sate, Alhaji Ahmed Makama, during a media briefing in Jalingo, on Thursday, said two INEC national commissioners and three RECs from Adamawa, Bauchi and Yobe would assist in the exercise.

“We are ready for the run-off. All sensitive and non-sensitive materials would leave the commission’s headquarters here in Jalingo today to various local governments across the state, where election would be conducted tomorrow,” he said.

Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)