RSIEC Set For ONELGA Polls

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has warned that the commission will not condone any form of electoral malpractices that will jeopardise the Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni/ Local Government election tomorrow.

The Chairman and Chief Electoral Officer,of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission,Prof Augustine Ahiazu, who gave the warning on Thursday while briefing journalists,said the Commission has the madate to ensure that voters are neither distracted nor disturbed from freely exercising their franchise through their votes.

Prof Ahiazu noted that the commission can not be under influence of any body, authorities or parties,urged political leaders in Onelga, to refrain from violence and all forms of electoral malpractices.

The chairman explained that 126,660 registered voters would exercise their right to choose who will be their councillor and chairman,adding that elections will hold in all the 17 wards that make up the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni/local Government Area.

He said the procedure of the elections on Saturday would be the same as that of the Re- run and bye elections last weekend.

The commission said it has secured permission from the state Sanitation Authorities to exempt Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni/Local Government Area from next month’s sanitation which holds on Saturday.

According to him,movement within the local government area will be restricted from 10pm on Friday 1st March to 6.00am on Saturday 2nd March,2013.

“People will move freely to various units where their names appear,for the purpose of accreditation which will commence at 9 a.m. and end 12 pm.Voting proper will commence by 12 .30 p.m. and end when the last voter on the accredited voters line must have voted”,he said.

On security, Prof Ahiazu said the commission would deploy 1,500 personnel and would make use of 1,234 adhoc staff who have been trained and motivated for the exercise.

He, however, said the elections are being contested by 120 candidates representing 23 political parties in the state.