In advance of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections, the Bauchi State Independent National Electoral Commission has started distributing sensitive materials to the state’s 20 local government areas.
Our correspondent noticed the materials for some LGAs being sorted out there while others were being placed into awaiting cars on Thursday afternoon as he was at the INEC headquarters in Bauchi.
The Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army, as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission, were all heavily represented by security officers.
Adamu Gujungu, the Bauchi State INEC’s Head of Department for Voter Education and Public Enlightenment, told our correspondent in an interview that the organization is completely prepared to hold credible, free, and transparent elections throughout the state.
“Today, Thursday, at the state INEC headquarters, preparations are in high gear. The 20 local government areas of the state’s electoral officers are currently receiving sensitive materials from us. As you are aware, we completed the distribution of the non-sensitive goods a few weeks ago, and there are no non-sensitive materials left at the State Headquarters.
“The Electoral Officers will get the sensitive documents, including as the ballots and result sheets, today so they can transport them to respective local government regions. We haven’t faced any difficulties yet, and everything is proceeding according to plan.
He explained that the more challenging and tough places, like Zaki, will receive their consignments before the simpler areas.
Gujungu commented on the security measures in place, saying: “You have seen the security here; no Electoral Officer would be allowed to collect his ballot papers and the other election materials without security escorts. This arrangement has existed for a very long time.
The Commission has hired a total of 5,423 ad hoc staff members to assist with the conduct of the election in Bauchi State, according to the Head of Voter Education and Public Enlightenment.
The number of polling units we have will be used to determine the size of the ad hoc workforce. A Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers will work in each of the 423 polling places.
These ad-hoc staff members served in a variety of roles. “We also have Collation Officers. We have supervisors at every level, from RA through local government up to the state level. We will engage a total of 5,423 ad hoc employees for the general elections in Bauchi State in 2023.
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