The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday declared readiness to conduct re-run elections in Etche Local Government Area (LGA) to fill the Etche State Constituency II and Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency seats.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Edo, Bayelsa and Rivers states, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, said 700 staff members have been engage for the exercise.
Agbamuche-Mbu however described the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)’s decline to participate in the election as unfortunate.
“We always enjoyed having the young graduates coming to join us in the experience and INEC is a field job and sometimes, security is an issue.
”Etche has been actually quite violent over the years and we understand why they say they don’t want their staff to come this time around.
”But that notwithstanding, INEC has mobilised its staff and some staff from out of the state to join us and I am sure we are going to have a successful election,” she said.
Agbamuche-Mbu said that the commission was fully prepared to conduct the election as sensitive materials had already been brought into the state.
”Our card-readers are prepared, we are going to make sure they are charged, our ICT man has been working on them, charging them up.
”The card-readers are going to be in every polling unit and we have a back-up too; this is a small election compared to what INEC does, so we have no reason to fail,” the official added.
On measures against compromising officials, Agbamuche-Mbu said she is in the disciplinary committee of INEC and know how the commission disciplined those who were involved in 2015 elections.
”And trust me, our staff know that this time around, any staff that is found wanting will pay a price.
”The people of Etche want the election to take place and I sincerely do believe that the people of Etche are peaceful and will show Nigerians how peaceful they are on Saturday.”
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