IMO GUBER POLL: INEC POINTS OUT RISK FACTORS

 
REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

The Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) has identified vote buying, suppression of voters and security lapses as some of the issues militating against the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.

The Deputy Director Electoral Training and Coordinator INEC Electoral Risk Management, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agoha, made this known during an election risk management workshop organized for electoral officers and Inter Agency Consultative Community on Election Security held in Owerri.

Mr. Agoha said the meeting was aimed at identifying possible triggers of election risk in Imo state and finding ways of mitigating them.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Professor Sylvia Agu, said the meeting would equip the participants with relevant information on likely threats to the election to enable them to take proactive measures towards ensuring credible polls.

Professors Agu explained that the commission was considering creating situation rooms across the local government areas for prompt response to emergencies.

She added that the commission would do everything within its means to ensure that the outcome of the next month’s governorship election reflected the will of the people.

A member of the civil society, Mr. Samuel Ozonna, appealed to INEC to conduct the election within the guidelines.

Mr. Ozonna noted that the people often got agitated when issues like late arrival of materials or malfunctioning of equipment were observed during elections.

The workshop was attended by electoral officers, security agents, civil society groups and the media.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU