Bauchi by-election: INEC distributes sensitive materials

Bauchi State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has mobilized and distributed all sensitive materials needed for the conduct of House of Reps by-election for Zaki Federal constituency scheduled for Saturday, 25-01-2020.

While briefing Journalists and other stakeholders on the preparedness of the Commission to conduct a free and fair election, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Abdullahi Ibrahim who was at the Bauchi branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gave the assurance that from the preparations so far, the exercise will be hitch-free.

He expressed optimism that, all the sensitive materials will be handed over to the INEC officials at the local government level who have already taken off to the affected local government areas, of the state which are, Gamawa and Zaki respectively, where the election will hold.

He said that ” This is usually the last material we are distributing for this election which is the sensitive materials we are very ready, the security is okay, we have been assured by all the security agencies and all the materials for this election are handy.”

Abdullahi Ibrahim also maintained that the election comprises of Gamawa and Zaki federal constituency in the state and explained that INEC will conduct re-run in Gamawa while the supplementary election will hold in Zaki local government area.

The REC affirmed that “In Gamawa it will involve 289 voting points, while in Zaki 4 voting points and in terms of the voter population, registered voters in Gamawa are 130,507, while in Zaki we have 1,663 registered voters”.

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It will be recalled that the election petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in Jos have ordered the cancelation of the election in the two areas and ordered a by-election.

Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Police Command has assured the general public that it has put in place adequate security measures and will provide level playing ground for all political parties for a peaceful conduct of the Saturday by-election in Gamawa and Zaki LGAs.

A statement by DSP Kamal Datti contained that “The Command wishes to equally inform the general public that there will be total restriction of movement of persons and vehicles on the election day between 8:00 am – 4:00 pm in the affected areas where election will take place, except personnel on essential duties who must carry their valid identification card”.

The statement added that “That only eligible registered Voters with valid Permanent Voters Card (PVC) will be allowed to vote and after voting must keep distance of at least 300 meters away from the polling unit in accordance with the Electoral Act” .

“The Police and other security agencies will be patrolling to ensure strict compliance with these orders. Finally, the Command calls on parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, opinion leaders, guardians to prevail on their children, subjects, adherents, and wards not allow themselves to be used to cause disturbance of public peace before, during or after the election as anybody arrested in the act will face the full wrath of the law”, the statement concluded.