The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, has disclosed that all INEC sensitive materials brought into the state were under heavy security.
Ononamadu stated this while briefing journalists in Enugu on the postponement of the last Saturday Presidential election.
He said, “As of the time of making the announcement for cancellation some of the sensitive materials had left CBN and got to their council headquarters, while some were still on their way to council headquarters under heavy security escort.
“We have been directed to return all the sensitive materials to the CBN, Enugu and they are under heavy armed security to ensure that integrity of the materials will be ensured.
“The materials will be in the protective custody of the CBN, under heavy security presence, until Wednesday when it will be escorted by the same security personnel back to the council headquarters. And beginning from Thursday, the sensitive materials will be moved to the Registration Area Centres (RAC) under heavy security as well.’’
Ononamadu however assured residents of Enugu State of the integrity of the electoral materials especially the sensitive materials – ballot papers and its accessories as well as result sheets, which is Form EC 8B from the truck-pallets.
He expressed regrets for the postponement and inconveniences it caused the residents, said that the decision was taken to protect democracy.
He said, “It is a painful decision but one that must be taken to ensure integrity, a free and fair process”.
The REC assured that few slight lapses observed in the commission’s work in the state would be corrected before Saturday.
He disclosed that over 1.7 million Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) had been collected so far among the 1.9 million registered voters in the state, while urging the residents of the state to keep faith with the commission as “we are poised to organize a credible, fair and free elections come Feb. 23.”
It could be recalled that INEC on Saturday shifted presidential and National Assembly elections till next week, Feb. 23 while governorship and house of assembly, FCT area council elections had also been shifted from March 2 to March 9.
