INEC Confirms 90% Preparedness for Kogi Gubernatorial Election

• INEC is 90 percent prepared for the Kogi State governorship election, recruiting over 15,000 ad hoc staff and deploying BVAS units
• Security agencies will focus on identified flashpoints to ensure a secure and peaceful election, with INEC relying on their assurances

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed that it is 90 percent prepared for the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State, scheduled for November 11. Dr. Gabriel Longpet, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kogi INEC, shared this assurance in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lokoja on Monday.

Longpet revealed that the commission has recruited over 15,000 ad hoc staff to facilitate the smooth conduct of the elections. He explained that INEC has 3,508 polling units, with each unit being manned by four ad-hoc staff, in addition to security personnel responsible for ensuring peaceful conduct.

In densely populated polling units, more staff and Backup Voter Authentication Systems (BVAS) will be deployed to complement the regular setup. For units with a high number of registered voters, the plan is to create more voting points to facilitate the process and minimize delays. In case of any BVAS failure or challenges, INEC will swiftly provide backup BVAS units to ensure seamless voting continues.

When asked about using helicopters or choppers for the distribution of voting materials in remote areas, Longpet mentioned that he was not aware of such a plan but assured that the commission would ensure that all polling units receive their materials on time.

Longpet emphasized that the BVAS units have already been deployed to all 21 local government areas in the state in preparation for the election. While he stated that INEC is 90 percent prepared, he noted that sensitive materials like ballot papers and result sheets are still awaited, which currently prevents them from reaching a higher level of readiness.

Regarding security, Longpet mentioned that identified flashpoints will receive extra attention from security agencies to ensure a smooth and trouble-free election. He acknowledged that security matters are primarily the responsibility of the security agencies, and INEC relies on their assurances for a safe and secure voting process.