The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has concluded training for the 51,000 ad hoc staff recruited for the conduct of forthcoming general election in Kano state.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Prof. Riskuwa Arab-Shehu disclosed this on Friday in Kano state at a Town Hall Meeting with women groups and gender focused Civil Society Organisations for enhanced women participation in elections.
The event was organised by INEC in collaboration with Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) to educate women on the need to participate in the forthcoming election.
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Arab-Riskuwa, who was represented by the Administrative Secretary of the commission, Alhaji Mohamed Sani-Mohammed, said the ad hoc staff, would be deployed to all the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state for the election.
According to him, the commission has also received all the sensitive materials which are being kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for safe keep.
“We have completed all necessary arrangements for the election as we have concluded training of ad hoc staff in addition to receiving sensitive materials which are kept at the CBN, “he said
On vote buying, the INEC REC warned the electorate against the illegal act as anybody caught in the act would be punished in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
“The commission had engaged critical stakeholders like traditional rulers of the community and religious leaders in sensitising voters on the need to avoid vote buying or acts capable of causing trouble during the election,” he said.
A renowned Civil Society Activist, Malam Ibrahim Waiya, said the meeting was aimed at educating the electorate particularly women on the importance of coming out to participate fully in the election in order to elect credible leaders.
Waiya, who decried low level of women participation in elections, said the meeting would go a long way in encouraging them to come out massively and vote.
He called on the participants to extend the message to those who could not attend the event.
He also used the occasion to call on INEC to ensure that the process is fair and transparent. (NAN)
