By Habib Sani Galadima
Despite the violence in the state of Imo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has reiterated that it is prepared to hold a credible, free, and fair election on February 25.
Prof. Sylvia Agu, the state’s resident electoral commissioner, provided the guarantee on Wednesday during a press conference to declare the commission’s election readiness.
According to Mr. Agu, 2.4 million registered voters in Imo were able to cast ballots in the election.
“As at the close of work on Feb. 3, about 375,004 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC), comprising 206,463 old cards, 116,734 new cards and 51,807 reprints have been collected,” she said.
Agu said that more than 4,500 people who filled up forms regarding PVC-related difficulties had received attention.
The REC told the commission that sufficient preparations had been made to conduct voting in the state’s problematic regions, particularly in the Okigwe and Orsu Local Government Areas.
However, she pointed out that there would be no election at 38 polling places in the state where the commission had reported no registration.
According to Agu, there were no registrations in the following local government areas: Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ezinihite Mbaise, Ideato North, Isiala Mbano, Isu, Njaba, Ohaji/Egbema, Orlu, Oru East, Owerri Municipal, and Owerri North.
“On level of preparedness, INEC in Imo State is fully ready for the elections.
“All non-sensitive materials have been received and distributed to various Local Government Areas.
“Diverse trainings have been concluded and the training of presiding officers and assistant presiding officers is still on-going.
“The next set of trainees will focus on registration areas, technical collation officers.”
Following the training, the commission, according to Agu, would hire a respectable number of ad hoc staff members for the elections.
Remember that INEC had had up to four attacks on its facilities in Imo since 2022, which led to the deaths of several staff members.
Despite the attacks, the commission has reiterated its commitment to holding the polls.
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