The Independent National Electoral Commission has deployed three national commissioners to Abia, Imo and Taraba States on supervisory duties for the supplementary governorship elections coming up today (Saturday) in the three states.
The national commissioners will be assisted in each of the states by three resident electoral commissioners.
The Commission’s Secretary, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, who stated this in a statement in Abuja on Friday, added that the deployments were besides the substantive RECs for the affected states.
The supplementary elections will hold in 51 registration areas in nine local government areas of Abia State; 79 RAs in 23 LGAs in Imo; and 32 RAs in 10 LGAs in Taraba.
She said INEC has also deployed three directing staff from the headquarters to each of the affected states to coordinate the operations, while some other staff from the headquarters have been deployed in the states as monitors.
She said, ” In addition, electoral officers from neighbouring states will be on the ground to assist the EOs of the affected LGAs.
“The Commission is determined to ensure that the supplementary elections are free, fair credible and peaceful; and it urges voters in the affected areas to conduct themselves peacefully and in accordance with set procedures of the elections, so that the process is crisis-free and concludes in good time.
“We also call on the Police to ensure compliance by political actors with the restriction on movement in places where the elections are holding.
“INEC reassures the public that it is investigating allegations of misconduct by some officials during the recent general elections, and will ensure that anyone proven to have violated the rules be brought to book.”
