CBN already taking delivery of sensitive materials, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission said the Central
Bank of Nigeria has started taking delivery of sensitive materials
for the conduct of the forthcoming general elections.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter
Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, made this known while updating newsmen
on the preparations of the commission for the elections on
Wednesday in Abuja.

Okoye said that the commission was ready to conduct credible
free, fair and credible elections.

He said that the CBN in various states had started receiving
sensitive materials including ballot papers and result sheets.

He also disclosed that the commission had already taken delivery
of non-sensitive materials including voting cubicles, ballot boxes
and writing materials at its Local Government offices across the
country.

“For now, the commission is engaged in `readiness assurance’ for
the elections that will take place on Feb. 16 and March 2.

“The different zonal stores and states and local government
offices of the commission are presently taking delivery of
non-sensitive materials for the conduct of the 2019 elections.

“The CBN, on the other hand, is taking delivery of sensitive
materials for the conduct of the elections,” he said.

Okoye said that the commission was also beefing up security
arrangements around its offices to secure the election
materials.

He also added that most Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs)
had concluded the training of various categories of ad hoc staff
and were putting finishing touches to the other processes.

The national commissioner speaking on the recent fire disaster
that destroyed the INEC office including some Permanent Voter Cards
in Isiala-Ngwa South Local Government Area, Abia, said that the act
should be condemned by all Nigerians.

“We see the attack as an act to create fear into the minds of
some of officers that we will use to conduct elections.

“We are not going to be intimidated by such attacks; rather we
will continue to do the right thing.

“So, those who went and burn our local government office will
not have achieved anything because we it will continue to follow
due process as we conduct the 2019 general elections.

He reiterated that INEC would not allow collection of PVCs by
proxy, adding that any individual found distributing PVCs in proxy
would be arrested and prosecuted.

Okoye advised journalists covering the forthcoming elections to
keep abreast with constitutional and legal issues in the conduct of
elections as well report professionally and objectively.

“Always be guided by the need to uphold the basic tenets of good
reporting.

“You must always be guided by the need to report objectively
bearing in mind that a divided or a prejudiced press not only
portends danger to our democracy and electoral process, but also to
the cooperate well being of Nigeria.’’

Okoye said that on the part of INEC, the commission would
continue to be open and transparent in the management of
information relating to the forthcoming elections.

(NAN)