The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the distribution of sensitive materials including result sheets to the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo.
The state Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Prof. Sylvia Agu told newsmen during the exercise that the commission would strive to ensure early and timely distribution of materials from the various local government council secretariats to the polling units.
She said that all the sensitive materials received from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were sealed.
The REC said that the sit-at-home directive imposed on residents in the state by the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) adversely affected the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to her, the directive forced members of the Nigeria Union of Road Transporter Workers (NURTW) to stay off the road, thereby affecting movement of ectoral materials to polling units.
“That was what led to the late deployment of materials to the various polling units.
“But we have made additional arrangements to transport materials during this Saturday’s election besides the arrangement with NURTW,” she said.
Agu said the reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would enable the upload of election results seamlessly.
“We have been doing refreshers training since last week. We have not rested because of what happened three weeks ago.
“What happened then was a sabotage, but we have been training our POs, APOs and SPOs since last week
“We are doing our best to salvage our name. We have done our best as mortal beings. I believe God will help us,” Agu stressed.
She also maintained that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure peaceful conduct of the poll particularly in troubled areas including Okigwe, Orlu and Orsu, among others.
The deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Martin Ejiogu, who monitored the distribution, expressed concerns over the process especially at the local government areas.
“Because of what happened in the last election, we don’t have faith in what they are doing, but if you don’t join them, they will still write the result.
“PDP is always ready and we will play by the rules,” Ejiogu said.
He appealed to INEC to improve on the electoral process in order to ensure the conduct of creditable elections.
Also speaking, the Labour Party agent, Dr Chris Uzowuru, called on the commission to resist results from places where election did not hold.
On his part, the Attorney-General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Cyprian Akaolisa, commended INEC for its readiness to conduct Saturday’s election.
“It was easy seeing the serial numbers and ward by ward packaging of materials given to each Local Government Area,” he said.
Akaolisa, who doubles as the All Progressives Congress (APC) agent, expressed confidence that the party would clinch all the 27 seats in the state House of Assembly elections on Saturday.
