Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclosed that elderly and disabled persons would be given consideration, accredited and allowed to vote first during the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State on November 21.
State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Halilu Pai, who announced this at a sensitisation forum for stakeholders, said the decision was to ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised during the election.
Pai explained the readiness of the commission to conduct a free and fair election, adding that additional 47,389 new voters have been registered in the state, and that the newly-registered would receive their permanent voter cards, PVCs, before the election.
He stated that the recent audit of PVCs carried out by his office indicated that 1.9 million PVCs have been distributed while 308,159 remain uncollected.
The INEC boss assured that the commission would embark on voter education and enlightenment in due course, urging the stakeholders, including the media to be part of this.
While speaking, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, pointed out that hotspots and some elements considered to be security threats to the election have been identified.
He noted that the force would soon move against the identified potential trouble makers, promising to provide security before, during and after the election in collaboration with other security agencies.
Ojukwu added that seven policemen would be attached to each of the 4,548 polling units in the state, adding that more policemen would be deployed to the state for the election.
He posited that the police would ensure an aerial surveillance of the state to forestall violence while also providing tight security at collation centres.
The state director of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Ibikunle Medupin, leaders of political parties, women groups and representatives of civil society organisations who spoke at the event applauded INEC for the arrangements being made.
They, however, called on the commission and the police not to leave anything to chance as some entrenched interests in the election may want to play funny.
