Jega, RECs in crucial meeting over April 26 polls

INEC Chairman

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Tuesday met with resident electoral commissioners from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory over the April 26 polls.

Investigations at INEC headquarters in Abuja showed that the meeting, which started at 9am and ended at 3pm, also reviewed the National Assembly and presidential elections.

It was gathered that the commission would further collaborate with security agencies on the need to beef up security during governorship elections, especially in states that had recorded post-election violence.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, who confirmed the meeting said, “Just like we have been doing since the postponed election on April 2, these meetings are held to review the previous week’s lapses and then see how we can plan for the next one so as to improve on our performance.”

Idowu, who said that the commission was ready for the April 26 polls, stated that the INEC chairman had promised to ensure that every election was better than the previous one.

On the agenda of the meeting, he said, “Everything is being looked at. Not just security, the commission is looking at issues of logistics, operation and security. All those things that have to do with elections are being reviewed.”

Meanwhile, the police have allayed fears over the April 26 polls. They said adequate security would be provided during the elections.

The police said the post-election violence in some Northern states like Gombe, Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi would not change the security strategy they had put in place for the elections.

The police said that it was however collaborating with the military to stem the tide of violence in the states, adding that reinforcement of riot policemen had been deployed to the affected areas.

The Force Public Relations Office, Olusola Amore, who said this in Abuja on Tuesday added that policemen posted to polling units would not bear arms in accordance with the Electoral Act.

He assured that adequate security had been put in place to ensure security of lives and property in every part of the country for the remaining election.

He said, “We are on top of the situation in the troubled spots; we have deployed a reinforcement of PMS and are collaborating with the Army. On the number of casualties in the affected states, we are still collating the figures command by command.”
By Niyi Odebode and Adelani Adepegba             Courtesy Of: Punch