The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it required over 100,000 vehicles and about 4,200 boats to move personnel and materials for the conduct of next year’s general elections.
The INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the commission and the road transport and marine workers’ unions.
He said, “The 2023 general elections will involve the nationwide deployment of over one million personnel and massive quantities of materials twice within a period of two weeks from our state offices to 774 local government areas, 8,809 electoral wards and 176,846 PUs across the length and breadth of our country.
“It will require over 100,000 vehicles and about 4,200 boats that will be accompanied by naval gunboats. This is a huge undertaking that must be accomplished in the next 66 days and we are resolute in doing so to give Nigerians a pleasant voting experience.”
He expressed hope that the leadership of the transport unions will supervise their members in the various chapters and branches for the full implementation of the MoU.
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NURTW President, Alhaji Tajudeen Baruwa, pledged the union’s readiness to contribute towards the successful conduct of the 2023 elections.
‘Educate your people on dangers of vote buying’
Meanwhile, INEC has appealed to traditional rulers in Bayelsa State to lead the campaign against vote buying.
INEC National Commissioner for Delta, Edo and Cross Rivers States, Professor Rhoda Gumus, made the appeal when she paid an advocacy visit to the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The Chairman of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers’ Council and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, said cases of electoral violence had continued to rise because of the failure by relevant agencies to diligently prosecute and convict perpetrators to serve as a deterrent.
By Abbas Jimoh (Abuja) & Bassey Willie (Yenagoa)
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