By Dada Ahmed
Lokoja – The independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has concluded all arrangements for a hitch-free conduct of the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections in Kogi State
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet stated this at a news conference in Lokoja on Tuesday.
He said that both non-sensitive and some sensitive materials needed for the elections were already on ground.
He said that the office had also taken delivery of 3,508 units of BVAS needed for verification of voters on election day, saying that 282 BVAS were also received as back up.
Longpet said that all the BVAS have been configured and made ready for the election, saying that 24 faulty ones were returned to Abuja and replacement already made.
According to him, the elections will take place in 3,508 polling units spread across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Longpet disclosed that 1.6 million eligible voters will participate in the elections.
He stated that the 1.6 million voters were those who have collected their PVCs out of 1.9 million registered voters in the state.
The REC said the office had also trained all the adhoc staff, including supervisory officers and returning officers that will handle the elections.
He said electoral officials and materials have been mandated to arrive polling units well ahead of time to allow simultaneous biometric accreditation of voters and voting proper to commence at 8am prompt.
Longpet added that he and his management team had gone to the Central Bank of Nigeria office in Lokoja to inspect sensitive election materials and had certified them ready for the elections.
The Commissioner said voters living with disabilities, pregnant women and the elderly will be given preference over abled bodied voters in line with the electoral act.
He said special gadgets will also be provided for the blind, people living albinism and others facing different challenges to enable them to vote seamlessly.
On security, Longpet said that the office was in synergy with security agencies in the state to ensure that the security of both the staff and voters experience pleasant exercise at the end of the national assignment.
He urged politicians and their followers to eschew thuggery and other acts during and after the election.
According to him, politicians owe the country the obligation to educate their followers and the electorate on how to conduct themselves on election day to avoid violence.(vitalnewsngr.com)
