INEC Set To Conduct Polls In 1,840 Units …Sends Materials To LGAs As Police Deploy 20,000 Men, 20 Gun Boats, Three Helicopters

Ahead of the December 10, 2016, rerun elections in Rivers State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the rerun election will hold in 1840 units in the state.

The resident electoral commissioner also said that, the rerun elections will hold in Eleme, Oyigbo, Gokana, Khana, Andoni, Etche, Bonny and Asari-Toru local government areas. The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, who said this during a courtesy call on him by the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), also said that it has commenced the movement of non-sensitive election materials to the respective local government areas.

Ikoiwak also said that the rerun polls will not hold in Tai Local Government was before the court.

He further said that, INEC has commenced the training of adhoc staff for the rerun polls, adding and voting will commenced simultaneously from 8am to 4pm.

Ikoiwak stressed the need for the various political parties to see the rerun elections as a family affairs, adding that, there was really no need to overheat the polity, since the various contestants were all indigenes of the state.

He also warned the media to desist from being used as instrument of destablisation.

Earlier, Chairman of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Omoni Ayo Tamuno, had stressed the need for the commission to do the right thing by ensuring fair and free elections.

Ayo-Tamuno said that, the union was deeply concerned over the incessant harassment of Journalists during elections by suspected political thugs and security operatives, and urged the various political parties to restrain their overzealous supporters from harassing and assaulting Journalists during the rerun polls.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, says no fewer than 20 000 men, three helicopters and 20 gunboats would be deployed in Rivers State for the state and National Assembly rerun elections holding on Saturday.

Idris, who disclosed this, yesterday, said the police wanted to re-enact the examples on peaceful conduct of elections in Edo and Ondo where governorship polls recently held. “It is our responsibility to ensure a hitch free exercise and we would do our best to ensure a violence- free rerun elections to re-enact the Edo and Ondo examples”, he said while addressing officers and man of Kano State Police Command during a visit.

“We are happy with what happened in both Edo and Ondo states. We will be on ground with 20,000 men, three helicopters and 20 gunboats to ensure violence-free rerun elections”. Idris however warned that the police would be at liberty to defend themselves in the event of attacks. “The police are your friends, they would be there for you to ensure safety of life and property.

But I must warned however that we would not condon attacks on our men”. He announced the withdrawal of Mobile Police to guard VIPs, adding that a special protection unit would henceforth be deployed for civil purpose.

According to him, a reform would be implemented to assist serving and retired police officers. He added: “A special package to assist police widows is also in the offing”.