The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Sam Olumekun, has disclosed that Incident Form will be used in Saturday’s governorship election in a situation whereby the Smart Card Reader fails to authenticate a prospective voter.
Olumekun, who spoke with journalists shortly after receiving the Director General of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brigaider-General Sule Zakari Kazuare, in his office in Benin, however, said that the INEC anticipates that the use of the incident form will be few and far between on Saturday.
When asked if incident forms will be used on Saturday, he said, “we don’t expect that there will be too many of such cases, but if condition warrants it, of course we will use it.”
The REC also disclosed that distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) will continue at the local government INEC offices until Thursday, adding that some people, who tried to hijack the 2014 PVCs in the state, were arrested by security agents and the PVCs collected from them.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the NYSC, Brigaider-General Kazaure, has met with corps members participating in Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, warning them that any corps member found wanting during the election will bear the full weight of the law.
Brigadier Kazaure, who visited Edo State to solicit for adequate security for corps members participating in the Edo election, visited the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Benin, headquarters of the state police command in Benin and the state headquarters of the INEC.
Addressing the NYSC Director General, Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Bebenla Raji, said the army was working with the police, the DSS, FRSC, NSCDC and the Nigerian Police to ensure a peaceful election and protection for the participating corps members.
He said, “as long as you have me here, be rest assured that the corps members are well protected. We have even gone as far as arranging for the corps members to have the phone numbers of the officers that will be at the respective units where the corps member will be stationed.”
He also stated that more protection will be given the corps members as troops will be stationed in not too far distances to the polling booths in line with relevant laws guiding conduct of elections.
While receiving Mr Kazaure in his office, outgoing Edo State police commissioner, Chris Ezike, assured General Kazaure of police protection for the corps member, charging him to inform the corps members that any of them found wanting on Saturday will be prosecuted.