From Chinwe Ogbuka, Awka
A National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prince Solomon Soyebi has urged Electoral officers (EOs) to ensure that all Polling Unit open by 7am on 18th November for the Anambra governorship and Idemili North Constituency state elections.
He gave the admonition at the operational briefing of INEC Supervisors held at Grand Riviera Hotels and Suites, Awka just as he reminded the EOs of the need for them to adhere strictly to operational guidelines for the election.
Commissioner Soyebi said: “Electoral Officers must ensure one hundred percent opening of polls by 7am. We will not take any excuse for not opening the polls by 7am.”
He disclosed that the Commission has made adequate arrangements for vehicles to convey the materials and ad hoc staff to Polling Units, saying “nothing will stop our Polling Units from opening up at 7am.”
The National Commissioner also said that accreditation and voting would be done simultaneously and advised the EOs to ensure that all sensitive materials were batched appropriately.
Distribution of sensitive materials had commenced on 16th November, followed by their deployment alongside personnel to the Registration Area Centres (RACs).
Two National Commissioners, Engineer Abubakar Nahuche and Prof. Antonia Okoosi-Simbine were also at the State Headquarters of the Commission, Awka with Commissioner Soyebi to supervise the distribution.
Also present to observe the distribution of sensitive materials brought from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were party and security agents, under the auspices of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).