Pledge to conduct free and fair polls
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kaduna, yesterday started the delivery of voting materials in the 23 state councils for Saturday’s presidential election.
INEC officials took delivery of sensitive election materials from the state branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and sent them to the various councils.
Among those who witnessed the distribution exercise were local and foreign observers, representatives of 18 political parties, whose candidates were vying for elective positions, except for the All Progressives Congress (APC), which was not represented.
Speaking to journalists during the distribution, the Administrative Secretary of INEC, Kaduna State, Muhammad Auwal Mashi, yesterday, said: “What we are doing at the CBN branch in Kaduna is the distribution of sensitive materials for the elections that will be held on February 25. , namely the presidential, senatorial elections and DPR.
“As I speak to you today, all 23 council election officers have been summoned from the field, and they are here to mark the distribution of materials.
“Different from the previous election, where there were more than 90 political parties, this time there are only 18 political parties, and only in the presidential election, all 18 parties submitted candidates.
He said: “If you look at the amount of materials that will be distributed, it is not as big as in 2019; so, hopefully it will be easier to distribute in good time.”
According to him, the next thing to do is the transportation of election materials to all 23 councils, indicating that “we just held a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on election security, and we already know that we are right. take the materials to the councils. This plan for security agencies to provide us with security for people and material, which will be taken to the council, including areas where we have security challenges.
“Regarding the number of materials distributed, Kaduna state has 4.3 million registered voters; so, we should expect to have the same number; but we do not want to disenfranchise anyone. Every registered voter in Kaduna will cast their vote on election day.