The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) has assured
Nigerians and the international community that it has concluded
arrangements to commence elections by 8 a . m today (Saturday).
INEC Chairman , Prof . Mahmood Yakubu , gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja while addressing a press conference on the
commission ’s preparations for the presidential and National
Assembly elections.
Yakubu said that the commission has concluded the deployment of
sensitive and non sensitive materials to the 774 local government
areas across the country .
“ We engaged 825 ,543 ad hoc staff ranging from presiding officers to
collation and returning officers. We have mobilised 80 , 000
commercial vehicles and about 996 boats for the deployment of
personnel and materials .
“ The materials include 707 ,892 ballot boxes and voting cubicles , and
we are mobilising these to various locations by land and sea.
“ We have accredited 120 domestic and 36 international observer
groups , deploying accumulative number of 73 , 000 observers .
” We have concluded the movement of personnel , materials to the
774 local and 8809 RACs nationwide .
“ All arrangements are now in place to facilitate opening of polls at 8
a .m . on Saturday ,” he said .
He said that measures were also in place to combat vote buying and
other electoral malpractice .
He said that the national situation room would open at 6 p .m . on
Friday, while the national collation centre would also be opened at 6
p.m . on Sunday, both situated at the International Conference
Centre (ICC ), Abuja.
The chairman advised eligible voters to visit gotomypu .ng to obtain
location to their polling units , saying in the last 10 days about
190 ,000 persons had utilised the commission ’s various social media
platforms to geolacate their Polling Units.
He said that the election would be by simultaneous accreditation
and voting system , and that only registered voters with Permanent
Voter Cards would be allowed to vote.
“ As we go to poll tomorrow , I appeal to voters to be peaceful and
orderly before , during and after the elections.
” The police working with other security agencies have assured us of
adequate security for voters, electoral officers, observers and the
media.
“ May I also appeal to all to ensure compliance with the usual
restriction of movement for those who are not observers or on
essential dut ,” the chairman said .
Yakubu also urged members of the public to desist from issuing any
results of the elections, saying only INEC was empowered by law to
declare results.
” The commission will work assiduously to ensure that collation and
declaration of results are done at the various levels expeditiously .
On his part , the acting Inspector General of Police (I- G), Mohammed
Adamu, reiterated that maximum security would be provided
before , during and after the election.
Adamu said that the security personnel at the polling units would
not be armed and there would be no need for apprehension while
the election is going on .
“ We have some group of people who might want to disrupt the
election we have put in place strategy to stop that.
“ We have tactical units of our personnel and other services that will
be patrolling everywhere to ensure that the process is not disrupted.
“ The patrolling personnel will be armed and will deal with anybody
who wants to disrupt the process in the course of the election,
“ If any electoral offence is committed , we will work with the INEC
officials to apprehend the culprit and set up investigative team
headed by Commissioner of Police in charge of legal Unit to
investigate the cases and prosecute them .
“ Be it vote buying, ballot box snatching , be it thuggery, if you
commit that, you will be arrested and prosecuted .
“ After the voting , movement of electoral materials to the collation
centre will be protected . Armed security personnel will be posted to
the ward collation centres .
“ Even when the results are announced , those people who are
planning to disrupt the process , we have put strategies in place to
prevent that ,” he said .
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