INEC distributes sensitive materials in Anambra

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Anambra State has begun the distribution of sensitive materials to Nnewi North and Orumba North Local Government Areas, where the rerun election is taking place on Saturday.

The distribution exercise was supervised by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Elizabeth Agwu, at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Awka office, on Friday.

Agwu said the materials, such as result sheets and ballot papers, were received for the two local government areas while the BVA machines and other items were handed over to electoral officers.

She added that INEC had mobilised enough security operatives to provide adequate protection for its ad hoc staff and voters during the election.

She said, “We have completed about 50 per cent of our work, and we are ready for the election on Saturday. We urged our ad hoc staff to be proactive to ensure a smooth process.

“Movement has been restricted from 8 am to about 2:30 pm when voting will end in areas where the election will be held. We will ensure every voter in the queue votes before we close. All PoS operators have been warned to stay off all the polling units in the Federal Constituencies to rerun elections in the state.

“We don’t want to see anybody operating PoS around the polling units because they have been aiding vote buying.

“I want to beg politicians not to do anything funny. The security operatives are on the red alert. Don’t be where you are not supposed to be, don’t say what you are not supposed to say. Just go ahead and cast your vote and return to your house or stay quiet at a side. We must not create tension in the election because any person that wins is an Anambra person.”

The REC also disclosed that BVAS machines have been fully charged and are ready to be used for the elections.

The party agents from the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Young Progressives Party, and All Progressives Grand Alliance expressed satisfaction with the distribution of the election materials.

The rerun elections will be held at 21 polling units in Nnewi North Local Government Area and Orumba North Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.