The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Kwara has said it will deploy a total of 1, 825 electoral staffs for the scheduled Nov. 17 House of Representative By-election in the state.
Malam Garuba Madami, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), disclosed the figure in his remarks at a stakeholders’ meeting in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.
The meeting that took place at Government Secondary School, Omu-Aran Hall of Fame, was at the instance of INEC to interact with stakeholders ahead of the election.
The By-election is in respect of Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency following the death of the last occupant of the slot late Funke Adedoyin.
According to Madami, 1, 532 of the ad hock staff would be Corp members while the rest are officials of the commission and other categories of workers.
Madami, while giving the breakdown of the election statistics across the four local government areas said the councils consist of 42 Registration Areas (RAs), 330 Voting Units and 383 Voting Points.
He gave the total number of already collected Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) across the councils as 122, 656 leaving a balance of 46, 700 yet to be collected.
The INEC boss, who expressed disappointment at the low level of PVC collection in the state, urged party leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to rise up to the occasion.
He described the bye-election as a litmus test for both the Commission and the contending parties ahead of the 2019 general elections, saying all eyes are on all stakeholders to deliver accordingly.
Madami also expressed the commission’s readiness to conduct a credible, free and fair election that would meet the aspirations of all stakeholders including the international community.
Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, represented by Chief Jide Adebayo, the Eesa of Omu-Aran, on his part, appealed to the stakeholders to join hands with the commission and security agencies in achieving the desired success.
Present at the meeting were party leaders, party supporters, security agents, traditional rulers, market women and men as well as transport union members.
