•Jega deploys
commissioners in 36
states
•Elections may hold at
IDPs’ centres in
Adamawa, Borno, Yobe
Barring hitches, the
Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC)
is set for March 28 and April
11 general elections.
The Chairman of the INEC,
Prof. Atthiru Jega, has
deployed all the 12 National
Commissioners in his team in
36 states for the evaluation
of the preparation for the
polls.
But there were strong
indications yesterday that
the INEC is going ahead with
the use of Card Readers for
the elections.
According to findings at the
commission, the collection of
Permanent Voter Cards
(PVCs) has reached an
appreciable level for the
conduct of the polls.
It was also learnt that all
materials needed for the
elections have been
delivered to 36 states and
the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT).
A top source said: “We are
set for the polls; everything
is in place in 36 states and
the FCT. All sensitive and
non-sensitive materials
have been delivered and
kept in safe custody.
“We are in a convenient
bend for the conduct of the
polls because out of
68,833,476 registered
voters, 56,350,776 have
collected their PVCs,
representing about 81.87 per
cent.
“Prof. Jega has deployed all
National Commissioners to 36
states and the FCT to
evaluate the preparation for
the general elections. Each of
the National Commissioners
will supervise three states.
“They have left for these
states in order to ensure
that there is no setback
anywhere. Whatever is any
challenge any state Resident
Electoral Commissioner is
facing, it will be addressed
on the spot.”
On the situation in Adamawa,
Borno and Yobe states, the
source said: “We have
received reports that all
Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs) have refused to
return to their towns and
villages which have been
reclaimed by the military.
“So, we have no choice than
to conduct elections for IDPs
in designated voting points
with adequate security
provided by the police and
other agencies. It is
expected that these voting
points will be made secure.
“Long before some of these
local government areas were
regained by the military, we
had been forward looking by
creating these voting points.
We may have no choice than
to adopt these voting points
now.”
As at press time, it was
unclear if the polls will hold in
Chibok or not.
A document, Information Kit,
from the INEC, revealed that
there are 11 wards and 95
polling units in Chibok.
Although Chibok is a state
constituency on its own for
the state House of Assembly
election, it has been merged
with Damboa/Gwoza for the
House of Representatives
seat.
The battle for the liberation
of Gwoza was ongoing as at
press time.
