INEC to conduct elections at Borno ‘super camps’ over insecurity

Consults on four Kebbi councils, distributes materials in Niger, others

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to conduct this year’s general elections in super camps, following persisting insecurity in liberated four councils of Borno State.

The affected councils are Guzamala, Abadam, Marte and Kukawa in the northern part of the state.

Speaking on INEC’s preparedness, yesterday, in Maiduguri, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mohammed Ibrahim, noted: “All sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been received and are in the custody of the Central of Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He said from tomorrow, the materials would be transported to far-flung councils like Askira/Uba, Bayo and Mobbar.

The REC added that elections in the “no go areas” are to be conducted at the super camps of Nganzai, Marte, Monguno, Damasak, Doro, Baga and Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Council.

On this weekend’s polls, he said the 5,071 configured Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be manned by 51,000 ad hoc staff.

He said the Commission has a backup for the facility in the event of malfunctioning of any in the 5,071 polling units in the state.

Regarding security of election materials and personnel, Ibrahim submitted: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will provide us an air cover for the materials and ad hoc staff to the super camps of the four hard-to-reach councils.”

He said of the 149,085 issued Permanent Voter Cards, 96,158 pieces had been collected, while total registered voters is 2.515 million.

In a related development, Kebbi REC, Ahmed Bello Mahmud, yesterday, disclosed that the electoral umpire was consulting with security agencies over conducting elections or otherwise in four councils where insecurity subsists.

Addressing reporters on readiness for this weekend’s Presidential and National Assembly polls in Birnin Kebbi, he noted that the parley was to ensure successful execution of the exercise in all of the state’s 21 councils.

The REC said 1,961,028 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been collected, with 71,013 others yet to be picked up.

He added that INEC trained 14,972 Presiding Officers, 374 Supervisory Presiding Officers and 504 Collation Officers.

Mahmud confirmed delivery of non-sensitive materials to all the councils and registered voters, which he put at 2,032,041.

Also, INEC has begun distribution of sensitive materials to the 25 councils of Niger State.

The REC, Ahmed Yushau Garki, yesterday, said the items would be distributed to 4,950 registration centres across the state.

He hinted that the non-sensitive materials had earlier been dispatched across the state seamlessly.

Garki commended stakeholders, representatives of political parties and security agencies for their support since the electoral process began.

Chairman of, Interparty Advisory Committee Council (IPACC) in the state, Isah Mohammed Bello Makujiri, lauded the Commission for carrying all stakeholders along, promising that his organisation would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that this year’s general elections are peaceful and credible.

As of the time of filing this report, ballot papers for the House of Representatives election were being awaited.