TheCable

Silvia Agu, the resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Imo, says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is fully prepared to conduct the governorship poll in the state.

Agu spoke on Thursday at a two-day workshop organised for journalists by the International Press Centre (IPC), in Owerri, the state capital.

She added that Sani Suleiman, commander of the 34 artillery brigade, has promised to mobilise adequate security personnel to ensure a free and credible exercise.

According to INEC, the governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa will hold on November 11.

“In the midst of insecurity in the state, we did our best to ensure a seamless and hitch-free election. I came to Imo state one month before the general election and I was getting myself acquainted with the political environment. The burden was too much on me,” she said.

“My staff were apprehensive of the security situation in the state and I tell you right now, about 65 percent of my ad hoc staff have withdrawn their services because of insecurity. We are starting all over again to recruit new officials for the forthcoming election.

“I will tell you without mincing words that the last election in the state was not influenced by any individual or group. The only challenge INEC had was the issue of insecurity.  I said it earlier.

“You need to understand this, I have no powers of my own, as the state resident electoral commissioner, to declare the result of an election. It is the duty of the collation officers to collate results at the collation centres and the returning officers to announce results.

“Ours is to ascertain and entertain issues emanating from the exercise. We are also obligated to take orders from the national headquarters where the final results are announced as in the case of a presidential election.

“So for those of you who think that the commission could be influenced to announce a result just to favour a particular candidate, that’s a wrong impression of INEC. We do not have the powers to do that.”