Ahead of next weekend governorship election in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commissions (INEC) has restated it’s preparedness to conduct a free and fair elections this is it assured that nothing would be left undone to ensure the transparency of the process.
A competent source at the Commission who does not want his name in print told The Authority that that five Residents Electoral Commissioners, (RECs), outside the South-south states, would be on the ground for the election. They will be complemented by three National Commissioners from the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
According to him “INEC is prepared for the Edo governorship election. So far, we have successfully implemented 12 out of 14 activities for the poll and no item was shifted. The remaining issues are the last day of the campaign and the conduct of the election.
We are so committed to the poll, there will be no postponement. The same law that says we should withdraw where there is violence or where we anticipate violence also mandates us to go back to complete the process when calmness is restored.
“Five RECs, representing each of the six geopolitical zones, except the South-South, and three National Commissioners are moving to Edo. The INEC chairman joined them on Saturday to put things in shape for the election. The deployment of commissioners is to ensure transparency of the process. The three National Commissioners will be in charge of the three Senatorial Districts in the state.
“No National Commissioner or REC from Edo State will participate in the election in the state.”
He stated that the Commission is facing seventeen difficult elections between now and October with the Edo and Ondo governorship elections and six Senatorial bye elections which he said are equivalent to governorship elections noting the INEC is fully prepared inspire of the challenges as it has successfully accomplished almost the logistical challenges with the deployment of all the non sensitive materials.
On the controversy over the use of Zeepads he noted that it was an idea that is still undergoing perfection and is aimed at improving it for deployment in future elections to improve the biometrics.
