The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has charged the commission’s staff to remain non-partisan and maintain their integrity during the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.
Yakubu said this when he visited some INEC offices to assess preparations for the elections.
He said INEC was committed to credible elections in the states. His words: “INEC is not a political party and does not have a candidate in the November 11 governorship elections.
“All we are going to do is to ensure that the people of Bayelsa and Imo States choose whoever they want to be their governors and our responsibility is to protect the people’s choice.”
Yakubu also called on the Electoral Officers (Eos) in both states to ensure that all Registration Area Centres (RACs) were fully activated early enough to enable smooth conduct of the election.
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He said INEC would fulfil its mandate when poll officials live up to their responsibilities on election day.
He said refresher training would be organised on Friday, Nov. 10, in addition to the refresher training conducted on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Yakubu and his entourage also met with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICESS) in both states.
Addressing the heads of the security agencies, Yakubu said the principal aim of the meeting was to appraise their readiness in preparation for the election.
He added that measures to guarantee the protection of voters, election personnel, materials, collation centres and transport providers were among the significant security issues discussed throughout the meeting.
Yakubu also toured some of the commission’s facilities in Yenagoa to examine the available non-sensitive materials ahead of the off-cycle election.
The INEC chairman was accompanied by the National Commissioners and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in both states.
