The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC has accredited over 2,000 election Observers to monitor the Saturday, January 16th Local Council Election in the state.
The Chairman of the Commission Professor Ibrahim Sheka said the Observers were screened and accredited to monitor the election and write their independent reports during and at the end of the election.
“They have been screened and accredited and given the electoral guidelines for them to know the rules and regulations while operating independently,” he said.
Prof. Sheka said more than 48,000 Adhoc staff have also been mobilised by KANSIEC to conduct the January, 16th Local Council polls in the state.
He said the number comprises returning offices, Presiding officers and other polling officers.
He explained that most of the officers who are tertiary education lecturers have been adequately mobilised, trained and equipped to conduct a free and fair election.
“While trainings have been conducted and concluded for the others, that of the Presiding officers will be concluded early on Friday,” he said.
Prof. Sheka said all the necessary materials have been delivered to the agency by the contractors and are at hand, which is an improvement over the last election as sensitive materials were delivered late by the contractor.
He reiterated that the non-sensitive materials have been distributed to all the 44 Local Government Areas in the state, while the sensitive materials will be distributed 24 hours to the election beginning this Friday.
“Sensitive materials which include ballot papers are like money that is in the central bank that cannot be moved anyhow except when needed. So we’ll distribute them 24 hours to the election,” explained Prof. Sheka.
The Chairman of the Commission stated that proper arrangements for transportation and other logistics have also been concluded to ensure a hitch-free Election.
He explained that the state Electoral umpire has sought and gotten the support of security agencies for a hitch-free election.
Twelve political parties are vying for the 44 Local Council Chairmanship seats and 484 Councillorship positions.
Nnenna.O
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