INEC Assures On Early Polls In Rivers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it is committed to early commencement of voting across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Hon. Aniedi Ikoiwak who gave the assurance on Monday while speaking at a workshop organised by the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said voters register would be sent on time to the riverine areas of the state to enable the registration officers commence accreditation as early as 8am.

Ikoiwak explained that this strategy would check the old tradition of late voting in some riverine areas, noting that the commission was determined to make a change in the electoral process.

The state INEC boss said after accreditation by 12noon, ballot papers would be distributed to accredited persons for them to vote  for candidate of their choice.

Ikoiwak also said the essence of this strategy was to end the old tradition of sending voting materials late to the local governments which, he said often make elections in most parts of the state a late night affair.

He said the commission would soon publish the names of those who made double registration during the voters registration exercise adding that offenders would also be prosecuted.

He was emphatic that those who registered double would not escape the wrath of law saying that the commission would use the register as an evidence to prosecute offenders.

Also speaking at the workshop which was meant to train journalists on covering of election, the state commissioner for police, Mr. Suleiman Abba assured that the police would continue to provide adequate security during and after the election.

Abba said that those arrested at Bonny for registering people by proxy have be charged to court.