The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is prepared to oversee the bye-elections scheduled for Saturday in Cross River State, News About Nigeria reports.
Mrs. Tonia Nwobi, the Commission’s spokesperson in Cross River, confirmed INEC’s readiness during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Tuesday.
The bye-elections are slated for two state constituencies and one federal constituency, covering 34 polling units across four local government areas in the state.
Nwobi said that the elections would be held in eight polling units in Akamkpa council area, 11 polling units in Biase, two units in Obanliku, and 13 in Yala local government.
She assured that the necessary logistics and security measures had been put in place to ensure a free, fair, and credible exercise.
Nwobi said that over 100,000 voters were expected to participate, and the Commission would utilise INEC staff rather than ad hoc staff for the bye-elections.
“Logistics have been fully mobilised for the exercise. Non-sensitive materials have been distributed, while we await the sensitive ones to be brought to the CBN for onward distribution to the various polling units,” Nwobi explained.
She further stated that the Inter-Agency Security Committee on Election Security had convened twice to strategise and prevent security lapses on Election Day.
The scheduling of the bye-elections follows a judgement from the Court of Appeal, prompting the electoral exercise in specific constituencies.
Meanwhile, INEC reported that a total of 4,613,197 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have been collected by voters ahead of the February 3 rerun elections and by-elections.
The breakdown of the PVC collection shows that 2,189,171 cards were collected by voters for the upcoming by-elections, while 2,424,026 cards were collected for the rerun elections.
The rerun elections, as ordered by the court, will take place in two senatorial districts (Ebonyi South, Ebonyi State, and Yobe East, Yobe State), three state constituencies (Chibok State Constituency, Borno State; Chikun State constituency, Kaduna State; and Guma State Constituency, Benue State), and four federal constituencies (Akoko North East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency, Ondo State; Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency, Taraba State; Surulere 1 Federal Constituency, Lagos State; and Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency, Kebbi State.)
The rerun elections will also cover one senatorial district in Plateau Central and 13 federal constituencies in various states.
State constituencies across Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Zamfara will also witness rerun elections, making the February 3 polls a comprehensive electoral exercise across multiple regions of Nigeria.
