INEC, Police, Others Ready For Kano Re-run Poll
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Stakeholders involved in the Feb.3 State Constituency re-run elections in Kano State have expressed readiness for the conduct of the poll.
The stakeholders which include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police and other Federal security agencies in the state, stated this shortly after their meeting at the Police Command headquarters, Kano, on Wednesday.
The State House of Assembly re-run election will involve six local governments in three constituencies made up of Kunchi/Tsanyawa, Kura/Garunmalam and Tofa/Rimin Gado.
Verdicts of the Court of Appeal have ordered a re-run election in the affected constituencies which would be conducted by INEC.
In a joint press conference on Wednesday in Kano, the state’s INEC Commissioner, Amb. Abdu Zango, said that training of adhoc staff had since commenced in the state.
“I am glad to report that all preparations towards the re-run elections coming up on 3rd of February are on course. The logistics and all others are on course.
“We have had meetings with all stakeholders, political parties, civil society, media and today we had a meeting with security agencies so that we devise strategies for a free, fair and credible election in a very secure environment.
“I have been given all assurances that things will go smoothly, I am dealing with professionals, they have done that before, they will do it again, I am very confident of the arrangements, so far,” Zango said.
He said that as usual, National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members would serve as the ad-hoc field workers while the university dons would play their roles as the Returning Officers.
On his part, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, said that all security strategies had been put in place, adding that only the federal government security agencies would partake in providing the necessary security required for the poll.
“Today we are kick-starting the process of providing security for the upcoming elections in six local government areas and three constituencies.
“We have recieved briefing from the Resident Electoral Commissioner who has informed us of the number of polling units, which are 66 in number.
“As usual, the police always provide detailed protection order, highlighting roles to be played by all security personnel to be involved in this operation.
“Be aware that we are not going to use personnel that are not members of the Nigerian Police Force and the relative federal government security agencies in this election. The Vigilante and similar other security outfits are not going to be part of this election.
“This is to ensure that the provision of security during the election will strictly be done by the police and other security agencies recognized by the law.
“With this, we are assuring you that this election will come and go like it had happened in the past, we have done it before, we have the capacity, we have the manpower and we have the resources.
“Our national headquarters is right behind us to provide us with all the logistics we require to ensure that the election is secure.We are good to go,” the commissioner added.
