By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
To ensure that the November 6 Anambra state Governorship Election is free, fair and credible, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that it will not deploy men and material to about 86 or 1.5% Polling Units which have no voters assigned to them.
This much was disclosed on Friday by INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu during an Emergency Consultative Meeting between the Commission and the leadership of 18 political parties contesting in the Anambra state governorship election.
According to him: “out of the 5,720 polling units in Anambra State, 86 (1.5%) have no voters. For that reason, the Commission will not be deploying personnel and materials to these polling units. Furthermore, 894 (15.6%) of the polling units have between 1 and 49 voters. Election will hold in these polling units”.
“We will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that all Polling Units have voters allotted to them ahead of the 2023 General Election”.
Professor Yakubu also revealed that one political parties out of the 18 contesting in the Anambra governorship election race, one unnamed party did not nominate any single Party Agent.
He however assured the political parties that INEC is ready to deliver a free and fair election in Anambra state, adding that all non sensitive materials have been delivered to Anambra state.
Said he: “Let me reassure you that the Commission is ready for the Anambra State Governorship election next weekend. We have moved all non-sensitive materials for the election to the 21 Local Government Areas of the State. As usual, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is handling the delivery of sensitive materials to the State on schedule.
“Our State office in Awka is arranging for stakeholders to inspect the materials at the premises of the CBN in Awka. As is the case in all elections, the sensitive materials are moved under security escort to each Local Government Area from where they are distributed to the Registration Areas or Wards and finally to Polling Units on Election Day.
“I urge you to inform your Party Agents to be present for inspection of the materials at the CBN and to follow the movement of the materials to various locations should you chose to do so”
Chairmen and representatives of all the political parties attended the meeting.
