Anambra Election: INEC begins distribution of materials

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to the 21 local government areas of Anambra state, ahead of tomorrow’s gubernatorial election.

The state Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Leo Nkedife, told newsmen on Thursday that the materials, including smart card readers, ballot papers and result sheets, had been collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“About three weeks ago, we finished the distribution of non-sensitive materials to all the local government areas and, today, we collected the sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria and we shared them among the LGAs.

“Presently, some of the (electoral) officers are loading, while some others are already on their way to their respective destinations. We are 99 per cent ready to conduct the Anambra State governorship election,” Nkedife said.

He added that the electoral commission gave priority to the local government areas that were difficult to access due to their location, adding that adequate arrangements had been made to enable the regular and ad hoc members of staff to get to their duty posts early on Saturday.

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“We started giving out the materials first to those LGAs that are very far away so that they will arrive earlier than the others. In the same vein, we have made provisions for riverine areas in Anambra West, Anambra East and their environs.

“We have hired boats to enable them (INEC officials) to move, motorbikes and even bicycles for all these special terrains. We have even granted them permission to move their materials ahead of others so that they can get there on time because some of them need to cross the river,” he stated.

He added, “The (INEC) chairman’s word is that every polling booth must open by 8am. We have also established registration area centres, what we call RAC, in every ward. It is a kind of a mini-administrative office.

“Our men and materials will sleep there on the eve of the election so that it will be easy for them to trek to their respective polling units. We trained our members of staff; they are all very conversant with what they are expected to do.”