Rivers: INEC, Police Promise Peaceful Polls

The Independent National
    Electoral Commission, (INEC), the Police and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have expressed their determination to collaborate and work for a peaceful, free and fair election in Rivers State.
The three organizations and agencies made the pledge on Wednesday during a stakeholder’s interactive forum organised by the INEC in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
Speaking at the event, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dame Gesila Khan, informed stakeholders that the commission in her bid to conduct credible, free and fair elections on Saturday and April 11, has embarked on many programmes including distribution of permanent voters cards (PVCs).
Gesila disciplined that the number of registration voters in the state is 2,537,590 , adding that as at March 24, 2015, a total of 2,490,341 were received out of which 2,156,371 representing 87.32 percent had been distributed.
According to her, 12,699 PVCs  were  snatched, while a total of 300,313 are yet to be collected, adding that the figure includes both the PVCs of those who registered in 2011 and 2014.
“A total of 6,818 card readers received and one each will be deployed to the 5,838 polling units/voting points, while the balance of 980 will be used to augment where necessary’’, she added.
She noted that sensitive election materials like ballot papers, result sheets and card readers are configured and customized to function in a particular polling unit, explaining that these sensitive materials are also colour-coded as they have different colours from one area to another and cannot be used outside the areas they are meant for.
She also confirmed the receipt of 21,000 ballot boxes by the state INEC, adding that the commission has reduced to the barest minimum incident of late arrival of personnel and materials to the polling units through the creation of Registration Area Centers (RACs) and Super RACs from where poll officials will proceed to their various polling units on election day.
The Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature, said the police were ready to protect lives and property of the citizenry including INEC officials and materials as he urged citizens not to be afraid but to turn out peacefully and cast their votes.
The Police Commissioner who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Muhammed Ali, said men of the command have been well trained and  that the command had deployed some additional police officers to all the polling units.
According to him, “We shall collaborate with the local communities to form a better synergy in ensuring a free and fair election as the constitution demands.”
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State chapter, Opaka Dokubo, said the media was also ready to be objective in their reports and urged Nigerians to join hands to make the elections successful.

Ike Wigodo/Florence Ujile