The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River, Thursday, released confidential documents relating to the conduct of the re-run and bye-election to be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, in four local government areas of the state.
The local government areas scheduled for re-run election are Akamkpa and Biase in the Southern Senatorial district, while bye-elections will be held in Obanliku and Yala local government areas, that same day.
Sensitive and non-sensitive materials were inspected by political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, and members of the press.
The State Residential Electoral Commissioner, Prof Gabriel Yomere disclosed that the sealed election materials would also be moved to the concerned local government areas under tight security for the Saturday, February 3rd polls.
Prof. Yomere solicited the support of the political parties to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections in the affected areas.
He further called on the political parties to enlighten their members that the election is only for those who registered in the affected polling units as well as for those who had registered but could not vote in past elections.
He said the elections would be conducted with only the staff of INEC without the use of Ad-hoc since it is a small election that will involve only four local government Areas with only ten political parties contesting in that election.
Speaking, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Alphonsus Eba said the political parties in the State had met and agreed to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections.
“The election is a small one and does not require the bloodshed of anyone in the areas where they are going to be conducted,” Barr. Eba said.
He charged INEC and security agencies to arrest any member of APC caught perpetrating election violence and malpractices.
On his part, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor (Hon.) Raymond Asuquo promised that his party would maintain peace for the smooth conduct of the election in Akamkpa Local Government Areas and called on security agencies to ensure strict adherence to the restriction of movement as well as ensure that only those who are registered in the affected polling units in the area are allowed to move within the polling units.
The ceremony which was attended by members of State Inter-Agency Election Security Committee (ISIEC) witnessed the signing of all the result sheets by the REC before the distribution of the materials.
Among the ISIEC members who witnessed the exercise were the State Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Grimah, State Commandant, NSCDC, Comdt. Charles Brown, the Sector Commander, FRSC, Corps Commander Istafanus Ibrahim, the State Controller of Immigration, Comptroller Prisca Chinyere Ogbodo, and the Special Adviser on Security, South, Navy Commander Patrick Odiong (rtd).
