…Says sensitive election materials already distributed
‘…We’ve engaged with stakeholders, others for hitch-free exercise’
…NSCDC deploy, charges personnel on neutrality
…EFCC positions 100 operatives in Kano, others
…President-elect Tinubu urges peace, rallies support for APC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it was fully prepared to conduct successful supplementary polls in the areas slated for the exercise across the country on Saturday.
According to the Commission, it has concluded arrangements for the conduct of re-scheduled elections.
The electoral umpire had fixed April 15 for supplementary governorship elections in Kebbi and Adamawa as well as national and state assembly elections across many states in the country.
It stated that in Kebbui state, the governorship supplementary election would be held in 142 polling units (PUs) across 20 local government areas of the state.
The Commission stated further that supplementary elections would be conducted for Kebbi North Senatorial District, two federal constituencies and eight state constituencies in the state.
INEC’s National Commissioner, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Festus Okoye, stated this on Friday on the sidelines of the distribution of sensitive election materials in Birnin-Kebbi.
He said the Commission was fully ready to conduct successful supplementary elections in the state.
Okoye said the Commission had distributed sensitive election materials comprising ballot papers, result sheets and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He said the Commission had held stakeholders’ engagement with political parties, civil society groups, organisations and security agencies to facilitate a hitch-free exercise.
“Head of security agencies have promised that they had the courage, capacity and the resources to deploy adequately and effectively to all the places where supplementary elections would take place.
“On our own part, the Chairman of the Commission had deployed three national commissioners to Kebbi state because of the number of elections we have here. He has also deployed directing staff for these particular elections.
“So, we are going to have most of our staff acting as supervisory presiding officers, LG tech and acting in various capacities just to make sure that these elections are conducted successfully.
“We are going to have a conclusion to this election, so, by Sunday, Kebbians will be able to know who their governor is just like any other state of the federation,” he said.
Sokoto
In Sokoto state, the Commission disclosed that a national assembly supplementary election will be held in the 23 local government areas of the state.
A statement issued by INEC’s spokesman in the state, Dr. Shamsudden Sidi, indicated that the election would be held at 522 polling units for the three Senatorial districts and 466 polling units for the 10 out of 11 federal constituencies’ supplementary elections.
Sidi said the breakdown of the 522 polling units in the Senatorial district supplementary elections stand at 169 polling units for the Sokoto East, 185 polling units for Sokoto North and 168 polling units for Sokoto South, respectively.
He gave the breakdown for the federal constituencies to include: Binji/Silame Constituency 13 polling units, Kware/Wamakko Constituency 58 polling units, Kebbe/Tambuwal Constituency 56 polling units and Sokoto North/Sokoto South Constituency 99 polling units.
Others are: Dange-Shuni/Bodinga/Tureta 68 polling units Isa/Sabon Birni 18 polling units Goronyo/Gada 74 polling units, Wurno/Rabah 53 polling units, Illela/Gwadabawa 14 polling units and Tangaza/Gudu 15 polling units respectively.
Similarly, INEC on Friday distributed the election sensitive materials for the elections across the state, reiterating its commitment to ensure that the elections were free, fair, and credible.
Speaking, the Commission’s national commissioner in charge of the polls, Maj.-Gen. Modibbo Alkali (retd.), gave the assurance that INEC and security agencies were well prepared for the polls.
Alkali, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting, urged political party leaders to talk to their supporters not to cause any trouble at the polls.
“We are well prepared for the Supplementary elections and I want to assure you that INEC will ensure an all inclusive free, fair, and credible election,” he said.
Enugu
Similarly, in Enugu state, the Commission disclosed that it had made adequate preparations and arrangements for the Oji River state constituency supplementary election in the state.
The Commission’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) in Enugu state, Mr. Rex Achumie, disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu on Friday.
INEC had declared Oji River State Constituency inconclusive following the inability of election to be held at a polling unit on March 18.
Achumie said the supplementary election was “no big deal with the Commission since it is only a polling unit that is in contention.”
“We have made adequate arrangements and preparation for Oji River Supplementary Election and we envisage a seamless and successful election.
“Our staffers are already on ground with the necessary electoral materials for a seamless supplementary election. The security aspect has been taken care of.
“The Commission has sent out a publication and proclamation for the supplementary election in the mass media and in the community concerned about the supplementary election a week now for them to get prepared.
“We are ready to go and I believe that political parties involved are ready too,” he said.
NSCDC, EFCC
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed personnel and charged them to be neutral before, during and after the elections.
The NSCDC commandant-general, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered the deployment of adequate personnel to forestall any breach of peace.
This was contained in a statement issued Friday in Abuja by the Corps spokesman, Olusola Odumosu.
According to the statement, the CG said due to the peculiarity of the supplementary elections, “it is expedient that measures be put in place in all the 2,660 polling units, 185 local government areas in the country to guarantee its success amidst concerns for conclusive elections.”
He said the personnel must wear the toga of patriotism and work in collaboration with other security agencies in ensuring effective management of the elections.
“A peaceful atmosphere and a secure environment devoid of tension, acrimony or any electoral malpractices is sacrosanct to the success of the elections.
“Ensure that you remain neutral, apolitical, and unbiased and on no account must you be seen working for any politician or party, but only for national Interest,” the CG was quoted to have said.
He directed all the state commandants in the affected areas to identify black spots, volatile points or polling units and deploy personnel and equipment effectively to prevent any unfortunate occurrence.
Dr. Audi warned that any personnel caught in any electoral fraud or activities inimical to the Image of the Corps “should consider himself or herself dismissed as the Corps will not condone or harbour any criminal elements within its fold.”
He charged all eligible voters to go out en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice in a lawful and orderly manner or have themselves to blame, warning that “officers and men have been mandated to deal decisively with anyone attempting to disrupt or scuttle the election process.”
Similarly, he advised political actors to display a good spirit of sportsmanship before, during and after the election.
He noted that an “election is not a do-or-die affair and no political office is worth the blood of any Nigerian.”
Also, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that it had deployed 100 armed operatives to combat vote- buying in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa during Saturday’s supplementary elections in the states.
EFCC’s Kano Zonal Commander, Mr. Farouk Dogondaji, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday.
“We have deployed 20 personnel to monitor the conduct of the state Assembly elections in Kafur, Kankara in Katsina state,” he said.
He said adequate personnel were also deployed to monitor the exercise in Tudun Wada/Doguwa, and Takai federal constituency, as well as some state Assembly elections in Kano state
Dogondaji said other personnel were also deployed for house of Assembly elections in Katsina and Jigawa, to prevent vote buying.
“We have also deployed officers to Malam Aminu Kano International airport in Kano and the metropolis to monitor the exercise. We will be visible in all the polling units in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa to carefully monitor the entire exercise during and after the elections.
“We will be physically present at collection centres to prevent tampering with results from the local government areas to the state.
“We are carefully monitoring the entire exercise along with state security agencies, towards providing a peaceful atmosphere for eligible voters to elect their leaders.”
He said the deployment was part of the Commission’s commitment towards ensuring credible and transparent elections in the zone, adding that EFCC had also adopted measures that would make it difficult for any person or group to tamper with results of the elections.
Dogondaji called on the personnel to be thorough and professional in carrying out the national assignment.
“Our presence is to add value to the electoral process by preventing vote buying and change of results at collation centres.”
He advised parents not to allow their children to be used as political thugs, warning that anyone found wanting would be arrested and prosecuted.
Tinubu
In a related development, the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has called on Nigerians in the areas slated for the supplementary elections to conduct themselves peacefully and eschew violence and any act prejudicial to orderly electoral processes.
Tinubu also asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) members and the supporters in the areas listed for the polls to come out in their large numbers to cast their votes for the party’s candidates.
In a statement he personally signed and released to newsmen Friday in Abuja, Tinubu said Nigerians should desist from acts prejudicial to the conduct of orderly polls or that “will threaten the very existence of the country.”
He added that “it’s only when there is a country that aspirants to political offices can have seats to contest for and the electorates have people seeking their votes.”
“As the Independent National Electoral Commission holds Supplementary Elections across the country, I call on Nigerians in the areas slated for the polls to conduct themselves peacefully and eschew violence and any act prejudicial to orderly electoral processes.
“This supplementary election is as important as the first set of elections, the Presidential and National Assembly poll held on February 25 and the governorship and Houses of Assembly election organised on March 18.
“As the last leg of the 2023 general elections, we must ensure that the electoral processes are brought to a final, peaceful conclusion. I urge all Nigerians in areas where the additional polls will take place to eschew violence and conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner.
“Like the INEC officers, the candidates and the electorates, therefore, have a solemn responsibility in this election. They must ensure that the additional polls are conducted not only freely and fairly, but also devoid of tension, acrimony and violence that will threaten the very fabric that holds the country together,” he said.
While rallying support for the ruling party, the president-elect said: “I must also use this opportunity to enjoin my All Progressives Congress members and the teeming supporters in the areas listed for the polls to come out in their large numbers to cast their votes for the party’s candidates.
“Our party members and supporters should vote overwhelmingly for APC to complement and solidify the victory we recorded in the earlier polls. This will no doubt help in the effective functioning of the government at the federal and state levels for the benefit of our people.
“On this note, I wish INEC, all voters in the various polling units in these elections, the candidates, and the parties involved very successful supplementary polls.”
