INEC Lists 46,084 Staff, Accredit 11000 Observers For Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deployed 46,084 regular and ad-hoc staff for the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States.

VerseNews reports that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed concern about the prevailing insecurity and election-related violence ahead of the polls but noted that they had been reassured of adequate deployment by security agencies.

“Although the portal for media accreditation closes on Tuesday 24th October 2023, we have received applications from 80 media organisations seeking to deploy 1,203 personnel made up of journalists and technical/support staff to report on the elections.

“The 18 political parties participating in the elections are deploying 137,934 agents made up of 130,093 polling and 7,841 collation agents. We are also finalizing arrangements for vehicles and boats for land and maritime movement of personnel and materials.”

“We have been reassured of adequate deployment by the security agencies. On our part, we will continue to deepen our engagement with the security agencies, and more meetings are planned in the next few days.

“Similarly, the Commission will hold a series of meetings with stakeholders at the national level in addition to ongoing engagements at the state level,” he said.

The elections will involve 5,409,438 registered voters and 10,510 polling units across 649 electoral wards in 56 local government areas in the three states.

INEC has also accredited 11,000 observers for the elections and will hold meetings with stakeholders at both national and state levels in preparation.