- INEC deploys 500 ad hoc staff for Munya Constituency by-election with sensitive materials transported under armed security escort
- Commission relocates five polling units to safer locations while police promise enabling environment for peaceful electoral process
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct the by-election into the Niger State House of Assembly for the Munya Constituency on Saturday.
No fewer than 500 ad hoc staff have been hired to carry out the exercise, which will pave the way for the election of a new member through a transparent process.
Ahmed Yusha’u Garki, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Niger State, made the disclosure while presenting sensitive electoral materials to political party representatives at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Minna branch.
According to him, “With this presentation of sensitive electoral materials, INEC is more than ever committed to the conduct of credible and acceptable elections. The materials will be transported to Munya by the Returning Officers with the assistance of armed security personnel for today’s (Saturday) by-election.”
He further explained that, in a bid to ensure a peaceful exercise, INEC has relocated five polling units in Munya LGA to safer locations. The affected polling units are Beni, Dangunu, Kabula, Kazai and Kuchi. He noted that the commission adopted the same strategy during the 2023 general elections, which he described as highly successful.
On the use of BVAS, Garki stated that the devices had been fully charged, configured, and activated ahead of the poll.
He assured that they would give optimal performance and urged eligible voters to turn out en masse to elect credible leaders of their choice.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, promised to provide an enabling environment for voters to exercise their franchise. He stressed that the police and other security agencies would not tolerate any breakdown of law and order before, during, and after the by-election.
Similarly, the Niger State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alhaji Isah Mohammed Bello Maikujeri, expressed confidence in the process.
He said, “Both the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police are people of proven track records, and we are confident of their commitment to ensuring a peaceful election.”