Enugu LG polls: We are 98 per cent ready – ENSIEC boss

The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) has said that it is 98 percent prepared for the local government polls slated for September 21.

The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Christian Ngwu, said this in an interview with the newsmen in Enugu on Thursday.

Ngwu said that the commission had kept every arrangement intact except the dispatch of the sensitive materials and the deployment of electoral officers.

Ngwu said that the 17 electoral officers would proceed with the sensitive materials to the various council areas on Friday morning after briefing them.

He said, “We have already received the sensitive materials and kept them in a safe, secured, and hidden location until they are dispatched on Friday.

“All arrangements, both for materials, electoral ad hoc staff, electoral staff, and electoral officers, as well as security, have been concluded.

“We have concluded training for all levels of officers, including the ad hoc staff for the polls, on Wednesday.

“I met with electoral stakeholders and political party chairmen on Wednesday and all the political parties for the polls signed the peace accord.

“Yesterday, I met with the security agencies and even the Commissioner of Police.

“Today, we had another meeting to conclude on the polls’ security arrangement.”

The ENSIEC boss further said that the arrangement for logistics had been concluded and vehicles to be used for the polls duly fuelled and drivers stationed.

“ENSIEC is fully prepared for free, fair, and credible polls.

“With all these arrangements, I will encourage all the over two million eligible voters in the state to come out en masse and vote for the candidates of their choice.

“We have adequate security men on ground to guarantee their safety and for them to vote their choice without fear or favour.

“ENSIEC is assuring all the stakeholders, especially the 17 political parties taking part in the polls, a level playing field for everyone.”

Ngwu said that popular candidates, who were the people’s choice, should win, adding: “The commission will surely guarantee this.”

NAN reports that 4,145 security personnel have been deployed to man the 4,145 polling units in the state.

ENSIEC recruited and trained 12,800 ad hoc staff for the polls.