By Precious Akutamadu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has intensified logistics and security arrangements ahead of the June 20 Rivers South-East senatorial bye-election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers, Mr Johnson Sinikiem, disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
Sinikiem said that the commission had commenced engagements with transport unions and service providers to guarantee smooth movement of personnel and election materials.
“Discussions are ongoing for provision of buses and boats to convey personnel and materials across the seven local government areas in the district.
“Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices for voter accreditation and result upload are being prepared for configuration, power banks are also being charged,” he said.
He further said that the printing of both colour and black-and-white voters’ registers would soon commence.
The REC stated that all non-sensitive materials had been received from INEC headquarters and were being prepared for deployment to the affected local government areas.
According to him, sensitive materials are expected to arrive during the election week.
Sinikiem said that the commission would deploy 6,774 ad hoc personnel for the conduct of the bye-election.
He said that the personnel would be drawn from INEC, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and other approved federal ministries, departments and agencies.
The REC said that training for supervisory presiding officers would hold between June 5 and 7, while that of presiding and assistant presiding officers would hold between June 12 and 14.
He also disclosed that collation officers for the election would be trained between June 17 and 18.
Sinikiem said the commission was working closely with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) at both state and local government levels.
He urged security agencies to identify flashpoints within the senatorial district in order to ensure proper planning and effective security deployment.
The REC also disclosed that an online accreditation portal for media organisations covering the election had been opened, and would close on June 7.
He said that media accreditation tags were expected to arrive a few days before the election.
Sinikiem stated that voter sensitisation campaigns were ongoing through radio announcements and jingles to encourage peaceful participation of the electorate.
He said that the commission remained committed to conducting a free, fair, peaceful and credible bye-election.
The REC appealed to political parties, security agencies, youths, the media and the electorate to support INEC in ensuring a successful exercise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Rivers South-East Senatorial bye-election is scheduled to hold in 88 registration areas and 1,629 polling units across Andoni, Eleme, Gokana, Khana, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo and Tai Local Government Areas.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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