INEC Begins Training of Ad Hoc Staff Ahead of Edo Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has commenced the training of ad hoc staff that will participate in the governorship election in Edo State and that the installation and configuration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to be deployed on Election Day.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Sam Olumekun stated this in Abuja while briefing journalists on the preparation for the Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States and noted that the Commission had concluded the training of security personnel.

Mr Olumekun represented by the Director Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Mary Nkem said that the Commission was concluding arrangements with the land and maritime transport unions for logistics.

‘’The printing of triplicate copies of voter register for each of the 4519 polling units in Edo State is virtually completed. Accreditation tags for observers are being produced as we speak. For the media accreditation, 122 organizations applied and we have commenced printing of the tags.’’

In a Presentation on the Roles of the Media in Democratic Election, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi urged the Media to always hold those in positions of authority accountable on behalf of the public.

‘’The Constitution is asking the media to hold the government accountable and to remind anybody in power that He or She got there through the will of the people. Sovereignty is not to the President sovereignty belongs to the people who elects people into government and that makes the media for me, the most powerful entity in this country.’’

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr  Oyekanmi  also urged members of INEC Press Corps to always cross check their information before reporting to avoid misinforming the public on the activities of the Commission.

The Chairman, INEC Press Corps, Mr Segun Ojumu urged journalists to cover the elections to always uphold ethics of the media profession.