The Independent National
Electoral Commission has
said that the postponement
of Edo governorship election
by two weeks would not
affect the credibility of
election in the date.
INEC Deputy Director for
Voter Education and
Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang,
said on Friday in Abuja that
the commission was
committed to ensuring that
the election does not in any
way fall short of previous
elections.
He said that the commission
had already confirmed its
readiness for the election in
term of preparation, adding,
“what was outstanding was
merely the last stage, which
is implementation.
He said, “We are prepared
in terms of staff needed to
conduct the election and
adequate training including
accreditation for the
observer group; both local
and foreign, that will monitor
the election.
“We have also started
accrediting journalists that
will cover the election. We
have also done much in
terms of sensitisation of the
voters, political parties and
their candidates.
“The postponement of the
election does not in any way
change our preparedness
for the election, neither has
it changed our resolve to
conduct free, fair and
credible election.”
Asked on the lost the
commission might incurred
due to the postponement,
Dazang said that INEC would
no doubt incur additional
cost; especially in some
areas like mobilisation of
staff.
He said, “We are calling back
about 19,000 staff, we have
to pay them again and we
might consider retraining
them ahead of election, so
that they we remember some
of the things that we have
taught them. That is money.
“We have to pay them for
the allowances. We have to
pay them allowances for
coming back to conduct the
election.
“We might have to reprint
one or two of the sensitive
materials to reflect the new
date.
“Thankfully as at the time
our attention was called to
the advisory, we have not
distributed some of the
materials.”
He, however said that the
additional cost to be incurred
would not in any way affect
the conduct of the election as
the commission always made
provision for such
contingency.
Dazang added that the
commission would continue to
engage with the security
agencies to ensure that the
election was peaceful on the
rescheduled date.
He said, “We will also
continue to engage with the
security agencies in the
conduct of future elections.”
NAN