The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River has concluded arrangements for the rerun election in the state.
The appeal court had ordered a rerun election in Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency and Abi State Constituency of Cross River holding Saturday 25, 2020.
Arrangements for the rerun elections reached its peak with the collection of sensitive materials by INEC on Friday, January, 24 in Calabar.
The materials collected included ballot papers, Forms EC 8A, EC 8D, EC 8E and some others handed over to INEC official at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Calabar branch premises by the Branch Controller of the Bank, Chuks Sokari.
Speaking while collecting the materials, INEC’s National Commissioner, Mohammed Lekki said: “I came in from Abuja yesterday (Thursday) to join the new Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC to oversee the elections tomorrow.
“CBN does this thing so well in terms of safe custody of sensitive materials for tomorrow’s election. They have been doing this for a very long time. We have just taken delivery and in the next few minutes we will be leaving for Abi local government where the election is taking place. We are satisfied. We counted and everything is correct. The political parties are here. The agents are here. Everything is correct. We are ready to go.”
Also speaking, the new REC, Johnson Alalibo, expressed satisfaction with what has transpired so far. “The materials included ballot papers, Forms EC 8A, EC 8D, EC 8E, among others.
“I am very much satisfied with what I have seen. The CBN has been able to hand over the sensitive materials to INEC. And I am here with the national commissioner to receive them. The next thing is to move to the areas of election. My expectation is that we will have a peaceful, free and fair election. We just finished our meeting with the security agencies and everything is in order.”
Similarly, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Cletus Nwadiogbu said: “With what we have seen on ground and with the perfect synergy existing between the security agencies, I will assure you we have a near perfect security architecture on ground in respect of tomorrow’s election.
“There is no fear at all. There won’t be less than fifteen policemen in each of the polling units to provide adequate security for the voters and the participants.”
Also speaking, the Cross River State chapter Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Paddy Ally said: “So far, so good, everything is in order. We are satisfied.”
It is worth noting that the House of Representatives election in Yakurr/Abi will take place in 18 polling units in Ekureku I and II, while the Abi State Constituency will hold in 15 units in five wards, namely Afafanyi/Igbonigoni, Ekureku I, Imabana I and II, and Itigidi.
MIKE ABANG, Calabar
