April Elections: INEC to use Surveillance cameras

As preparations for the April elections continue, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC], Professor Attahiru Jega has announced that INEC will make use of surveillance cameras to monitor the April general elections. Professor Jega who disclosed this on Monday at an interactive session with civil society groups in Abuja, also banned the use of security operatives by top politicians to monitor polling units to forestall any mishap. The INEC chairman highlighted the new accreditation procedure mapped by the commission to ensure adequate security during the April elections. The chairman says as part of stiff preparation, the commission will commence intense training of adhoc staff before the end of the week, while the list of accredited monitoring organisations will be released simultaneously. Professor Attahiru Jega equally emphasised that there would be little room for fraudulent activities during the polls owing to enhanced monitoring especially by the surveillance cameras. According to him, it would not be business as usual especially for top politicians next month as the new voting procedure mandates an accreditation of all voters to checkmate any scheming at the polling units, and ensure politicians comply with the law. Professor Jega reiterated that the commission is working closely with security operatives and that any official who misrepresents the commission will be prosecuted. He added that INEC will undergo a major organisational restructuring after the elections to streamline all its activities. In a related development, a senatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Kayode Ajulo has advised Nigerian youths to avoid being used by politicians. The candidate, who is contesting for the federal capital territory senatorial seat said the youth should rather mobilize to ensure the success of the election. Addressing journalists at the headquarters of the Labour Party /in Abuja, Ajulo said the call became necessary because the development of the country depends largely on the credibility of the elections.