The Independent National Electoral Commission says it will soon conclude the process of moving all the sensitive materials for Saturday polls to the 17 local government areas of Enugu.

The presidential and national parliamentary elections are slated for February 25, and the governorship and state parliamentary polls will be held on March 11.

INEC’s resident electoral commissioner in Enugu, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, said early Friday that the trucking process of lifting the sensitive materials to various council areas had been ongoing hitch-free.

Mr Chukwu said the sensitive materials being moved included the Bi-modal Voters Accreditation System machines, ballot papers and result sheets.

“Once we load sensitive materials, the trucks accompanied by security and INEC officials will get the election result sheets from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Enugu branch, and its onward movement to the council areas,” stated Mr Chukwu. “I sincerely believe that early this morning, all the trucks must have got to their respective local government areas, as some reached the council areas before 12 midnight yesterday (Thursday), February 23.”

He added, “Buses will further take the materials, INEC staff and security to INEC’s Registration Area Centres already activated for the polls this morning, February 24. From the RAC centres, both materials (sensitive and non-sensitive), INEC staff and security will move down to the various polling units under each RAC early before 8 a.m. on Saturday for the polls proper.”

The REC explained that INEC had concluded all levels of training as of February 22 and deployed all trained staff and ad-hoc staff for the polls.

He commended the adequate deployment of security personnel and logistics in the state for the polls through the Inter-agency Consultation Committee on Election Security.

Mr Chukwu said that the commission had signed a memorandum of understanding with transport unions operating in the state on its members using their vehicles to deliver quality services during the election period.

“Our INEC headquarters have had an agreement with the NNPC limited for some fuel stations in the hinterland to sell fuel at approved official prices for all vehicles on official election duties during this period,” he added. “The election duty drivers will get their fuel products at the official price and in known designated fuel stations.”

(NAN)