INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials in Bauchi

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Bauchi State has commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to the 20 local government areas of the state in preparation for Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

Our correspondent, who was at the INEC headquarters in Bauchi on Thursday afternoon, observed that the materials for some LGAs were being sorted out while others were being loaded into waiting vehicles there.

There was a heavy presence of security personnel, comprising the Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, the Nigerian Army including the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in his office, the Head of Department, Voter Education and Public Enlightenment, Bauchi State INEC, Adamu Gujungu, said that the commission in the state is fully ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections across the state.

“Preparations are in top gear today, being Thursday, at the state INEC headquarters. We are presently distributing sensitive materials to the Electoral Officers of the 20 local government areas of the state. As you are aware, we finished the distribution of the non-sensitive materials some weeks ago and nothing is left here at the State Headquarters as far as non-sensitive materials are concerned.

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“For the sensitive materials, that is, ballot papers and the result sheets among others, these would be distributed today to the Electoral Officers so that they can take them to their local government areas. So far, we don’t have any challenges, everything is going on smoothly.

“The hard-to-reach and difficult areas like Zaki, would be given their consignments first before the less difficult areas would get theirs,” he stated.

On security arrangements, Gujungu said: “You have seen the security here, no Electoral Officer would be allowed to take his ballot papers and the other electoral materials without security escorts. This arrangement has been so for a long period of time.”

The Head of Voter Education and Public Enlightenment said that a total of 5,423 ad-hoc staff have been engaged by the Commission to participate in the conduct of the election in Bauchi State.

“The ad-hoc staff would be calculated based on the number of polling units we have. We have 423 polling units and each of them would be manned by a Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers.

“We also have Collation Officers, we have supervisors at every level from RA to local government up to the state level, these ad-hoc staff were engaged in various capacities. In total, we have 5,423 ad-hoc staff that will be used for the 2023 general elections in Bauchi State.”