The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 73 political parties have fielded candidates for elective offices during the forthcoming general election in Bauchi state.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, said this on Tuesday in Bauchi while addressing a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the commission.
Abdullahi said 31 political parties fielded candidates for governorship election, while 44 fielded candidates for the senatorial election.
According to him, 140 parties fielded candidates for the House of Representatives poll, while 368 fielded candidates for the State House of Assembly poll.
Abdullahi said the commission had distributed over 90 per cent of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), printed for the electorate in the state.
“Only 32,972 PVCs are yet to be collected,’’ he said.
Abdullahi said the commission had received all necessary materials for the poll and had sent them to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for safe keeping.
He said ad hoc staff had been recruited and trained in line with the Electoral Act adding that they would soon be posted across the 212 polling areas and units in the state.
“In spite of fracas here and there, electioneering campaigns have been peaceful in the state.
“I urge you to sustain the peaceful atmosphere that prevails in the state,” he said.
The state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Aliyu Janga, said the police and sister security agencies have perfected arrangements to ensure adequate security during the poll.
Janga announced that the restrictions order on movement on election days would be enforced and warned government and party officials against violating the order.
He equally warned party officials and faithful against cutting corners urging them to play the games according to the rules.
Janga observed that politics is not a do or die affair as INEC has improved the electoral process making it more transparent.
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