INEC set for polls

•Jega deploys commissioners in 36 states 

•Elections may hold at IDPs’ centres in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe 

Barring hitches, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set for March 28 and April 11 general elections.

The Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Atthiru Jega, has deployed all the 12 National Commissioners in his team in  36 states for the evaluation of the preparation for the polls.

But there were strong indications yesterday that the INEC is going ahead with the use of Card Readers for the elections.

According to findings at the commission, the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has reached an appreciable level for the conduct of the polls.

It was also learnt that all materials needed for the elections have been delivered to 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A top source said: “We are set for the polls; everything is in place in 36 states and the FCT. All sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been delivered and kept in safe custody.

“We are in a convenient bend for the conduct of the polls because out of 68,833,476 registered voters, 56,350,776 have collected their PVCs, representing about 81.87 per cent.

“Prof. Jega has deployed  all National Commissioners to  36 states and the FCT to evaluate the preparation for the general elections. Each of the National Commissioners will supervise three states.

“They have left for these states in order to ensure that there is no setback anywhere. Whatever is any challenge any state Resident Electoral Commissioner is facing, it will be addressed on the spot.”

On the situation in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the source said: “We have received reports that all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have refused to return to their towns and villages which have been reclaimed by the military.

“So, we have no choice than to conduct elections for IDPs in designated voting points with adequate security provided by the police and other agencies. It is expected that these voting points will be made secure.

“Long before some of these local government areas were regained by the military, we had been forward looking by creating these voting points. We may have no choice than to adopt these voting points now.”

As at press time, it was unclear if the polls will hold in Chibok or not.

A document, Information Kit, from the INEC, revealed that  there are 11 wards and 95 polling units in Chibok.

Although Chibok is a state constituency on its own for the state House of Assembly election, it has been merged with Damboa/Gwoza for the House of Representatives seat.

The battle for the liberation of Gwoza was ongoing as at press time.