INEC distributes sensitive materials for Cross River re-run, bye-elections
By Uket Oka (Calabar)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River State has distributed sensitive materials for the conduct of the Saturday, February 3, 2024 re-run and bye-elections holding in four local government areas of the State.
The local government areas where the re-run election are billed to hold are Akamkpa and Biase in the Southern Senatorial District, while the bye-election are to hold Obanliku and Yala Local Government Areas.
Flagging of the distribution of the sensitive materials which held at the Mike Igini Hall, State INEC Headquarters, Calabar, Thursday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Cross River, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, said the ceremony was to enable all stakeholders to view the materials before their final distribution to the local government areas where elections are holding.
Prof. Yomere solicited for the support of the political parties to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections in the affected areas.
He further called on the political parties to enlighten their members that the election is only those who registered in the affected polling units as well as for those who had registered but could not vote in the past elections.
The REC stated that INEC would use its staff in the conduct of the elections since it is a small election.
“This is a small election. Let us use our staff, we don’t need to use people who are not our staff,” he said.
Speaking, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Alphonsus Eba, said the political parties in the State had met and agreed to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections.
“The election is a small one and does not require the bloodshed of anyone in the areas where they are going to be conducted,” Barr. Eba said.
He charged INEC and security agencies to arrest any member of APC caught perpetuating election violence and malpractices.
On his part, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor (Hon.) Raymond Asuquo promised that his party would maintain peace for the smooth conduct of the election in Akamkpa Local Government Areas.
Pastor Asuquo however called on security agencies to ensure that strict adherence to the restriction of movement as well as ensure that only those who are registered in the affected polling units in the area are allowed to move within the polling units.
The ceremony which was attended by members of State Inter Agency Election Security Committee (ISIEC) witnessed the signing of all the result sheets by the REC before the distribution of the materials.
Among the ISIEC members who witnessed the exercise were the State Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Grimah, State Commandant, NSCDC, Comdt. Charles Brown, the Sector Commander, FRSC, Corps Commander Istafanus Ibrahim, the State Controller of Immigration, Comptroller Prisca Chinyere Ogbodo and the Special Adviser on Security, South, Navy Commander Patrick Odiong (rtd).
