CURRENT REPORT BLOG Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, announced that preparations for the upcoming elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi are well underway. These elections are set to involve 5,409,438 registered voters spread across 649 electoral Wards and 10,510 polling units in 56 Local Government Areas. All non-sensitive materials required for the elections have been successfully delivered to the respective states. Yakubu emphasized that the Commission is drawing valuable insights from the 2023 General Election to enhance its performance in these upcoming polls. A substantial number of both national and international organizations, along with media entities, are gearing up for election observation and coverage.
Furthermore, the 18 political parties participating in these elections are planning to deploy a substantial workforce of 137,934 agents, which includes polling agents and collation agents. The INEC Chair also disclosed that preparations for logistics, including the transportation of personnel and materials, are in the final stages. However, amidst these preparations, there is a palpable concern about the security situation and election-related violence in these three states. To address these issues, INEC is collaborating closely with security agencies and engaging stakeholders at the national and state levels to ensure a secure and successful election process.