INEC has said 137,973 polling and collation agents would be deployed for the Saturday Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states governorship elections.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said 137,973 polling and collation agents would be deployed for the Saturday Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states governorship elections.
The Commission made the disclosure in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, 34,704 agents were uploaded for Bayelsa State, 65,274 for Imo State and 37,995 for Kogi State.
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The statement read, “Sixteen political parties are sponsoring candidates for the election in Bayelsa State and 18 in both Imo and Kogi states. The elections will be held in 10,470 polling units (excluding the 40 polling units without registered voters).
“Each political party is expected to nominate polling agents for all the polling units as well as 649 Ward, 56 LGA and three State collation centres.
“However, at the close of the deadline for uploading the list of agents to the INEC dedicated portal by political parties, 34,704 agents were uploaded for Bayelsa State, 65,274 for Imo State and 37,995 for Kogi State, making a total of 137,973 polling and collation agents for the three states.
“However, the detailed breakdown shows that not all the parties nominated agents for the polling and collation centres across the States. Indeed, some political parties have no polling unit or collation agents in some States despite having candidates in the election.”
There have been concerns on the election in the three states. The police and INEC have however assured violence-free and transparent exercise.