EDO GUBER: INEC PROMISES CREDIBLE POLL DESPITE DAMAGED FACILITIES
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Notwithstanding the heavy rainfall that occurred last Friday and damaged vital infrastructure in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Edo State office, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu declared on Thursday that the Commission would conduct a credible governorship election as the damaged infrastructure would be repaired or replaced.
Yakubu said since the Edo governorship election is an off-cycle election, the Commission would also borrow equipment from neighboring states to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
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The INEC Chairman stated this in Benin City while on inspection of the level of damage to the facilities in the office in Benin City and to monitor the level of compliance with the on-going Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) and collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC).
Accompanied by senior personnel of the Commission from the National Headquarter and the state, the INEC boss said he also came for the visit by three National Directors in charge of critical areas of the Commission like Voters Registry, Estate, Works, Transport and ICT to assess the level of damage to their facilities, including the State Controller of the Federal Ministry of Works, which would carry out needed construction work in the facilities. He also ruled out moving out of the place because of the perennial flooding in the area.
He said the Commission was prepared for the election in Edo State and the next one, which is that of Ondo State, where he said the CVR would commence very soon.
According to him, “Our visit here is to ensure that we fix whatever we need to fix because of the election. We have three months and three weeks to the election and that is why we came here to inspect what happened to our facility on Friday last week so there is no immediate plan to relocate. We believe from what is here, we can fix them before the election and it is better actually that we conduct the election in our own facilities rather than going to rent any facility outside close to election.
“Before the last governorship election in Edo, we took measures and for three years since the last governorship election, we have had no issues, but this is an act of God.”
On whether he can quantify the cost of damage in the facility, Yakubu said, “It is very difficult to quantify now; we are on the assessment. That is why in this tour we have been joined by three critical Directors responsible for Voters Registry, our Estate, Works and Transport at the headquarters and our Director of ICT, so they will stay behind, do the assessment and advise the Commission.”
He assured that despite the setbacks, the Commission was ready for the election. “Let me use this opportunity to assure and reassure Edo voters that it is unfortunate that this thing happened in our office on Friday. We took a proactive measure to ensure that the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) was not affected by calling for additional resources from the neighbouring states and whatever it takes, since INEC is one national body and we are only going to have two elections in Edo and Ondo states, I will call for additional resources where it is necessary from neighbouring states and the elections will proceed as scheduled and we will recover from this unfortunate incident.”
Whether the ten days for the CVR would be extended as being agitated in some quarters, Professor Yakubu said, “We have not reached there yet; we will go round and see what happened, we are encouraged by the turnout not only of fresh registrants, that is, persons who are registered voters or who are not of age when the last registration exercise was done, so we are encouraged by the turnout not only of the fresh registrants but also by those who are applying for transfers, relocation and the replacement of PVCs, we are encouraged by that when we get to the bridge, we will cross it.”
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Anugbum Onuoha said the flood could be termed a blessing in disguise as it has better prepared them for the election.
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