The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has restated its commitment to conducting hitch-free polls in the forthcoming Edo governorship election.
INEC National Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this, assuring Nigerians that the commission will continue to push the boundaries of credible and inclusive elections.
While answering questions from newsmen during the formal induction of 10 new Resident Electoral Commissioners, RECs, in Lagos, Yakubu reacted to the flood that affected INEC’s office in Edo State, promising Nigerians that the election would be hitch-free.
“Although we had an unfortunate flooding in our office in Edo State, over 4000 machines were affected, but we deployed our technical staff, and we have already recovered over 3500 machines.
“It seems like it’s an off-cycle election. We will call for additional support from neighbouring states, so in terms of machines, rest assured that we have enough. We are going to recover from Edo, and rest assured that we won’t suffer any encumbrances at all,” he said.
He called on the inducted RECs to focus and acquaint themselves more with the processes and procedures of the Commission.
The 10 RECs inducted include Mr Abubakar Dambo (Kebbi State); Mr Abubakar Ma’aji-Ahmed (Bornu State); Dr. Anugbum Onuoha (Edo State); Mr Ehimeke Shaka-Isha (Akwa Ibom State); Mr Aminu Idris (Kaduna State); Mr. Mohammed Sadiq Abubakar (Kwara State); Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola (Ondo State); Dr. Olubunmi Omoseyindemi (Ekiti); Alhaji Shehu Wahab (Nasarawa State); and Sir Etekamba Umoren (Delta State).