11th July, 2012
INEC has deployed eight National Commissioners and 10 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to Edo for the July 14 governorship election.
The REC in Edo, Mr. Kassim Gaidam, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday.
He added that new Electoral Officers (EOs) had been redeployed to take over from the old EOs ahead of the election.
Kasssim said the new EOs were posted from states across the six geo-political zones.
“I can confirm that the names of the National Commissioners have been sent to me and I am awaiting their arrival any moment from now..
“Each Local Government Area is expected to be supervised by either a national commissioner or a REC.
“I can also confirm to you that the new 18 EOs selected from across the six-geopolitical zones have been redeployed to Edo and have since taken over from their old colleagues.
“I have met with them and told them what is required of them as EOs,” he said.
Kassim said the commission has distributed all non-sensitive materials to the 18 local government areas of the state while all vehicles to be used on Election Day were on ground.
“From what we have on ground, we are going to deploy three Hilux and four-wheel drive vehicles to each of the local government areas.”
On the handling of logistics in areas identified as difficult terrain, he said, “we have made adequate arrangements to that effect.”
Kassim confirmed that INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega was being expected in Benn on Tuesday.
He added that Jega would immediately address staff of the commission at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Hall in Benin and meet with stakeholders on Wednesday.
The REC also said that the Acting Inspector General of Police was being expected to assess the security situation.
“So, we are not leaving anything to chance at all.”