The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has deployed its operatives to monitor the Saturday governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi.

ICPC spokeswoman Azuka Ogugua said this in a Thursday statement announcing that the ICPC operatives were deployed to 56 local government areas and 649 wards in the three states where the election would be held.

The statement disclosed that the operatives were to, among others, monitor and prevent vote buying and other electoral malpractices at the various polling units during the election.

“The monitoring exercise is a response to the invitation by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for ICPC to participate in ensuring that the electoral processes in these three states are free and fair,” it stated.

The anti-graft commission also mentioned that the ICPC head of the special duties division (SDD), Alex Chukwura, called on the operatives to collaborate with other sister agencies during the elections.

Mr Chukwura told the operatives, before their deployment, to collaborate with the military, police, State Security Service, other security agencies and INEC to ensure free and fair elections.

He urged the operatives to strictly adhere to the ICPC guidelines for monitoring elections and that the officers should act with discipline and imbibe the spirit of integrity while on the field, staying close to each other and working as a team to achieve the desired goal.

Mr Chukwura also advised the officers to take necessary actions against perpetrators of any acts of corruption during the election in accordance with the law, no matter their social status.

“Voters in the three states aforesaid are charged to go out on Election Day and perform their civic responsibilities while avoiding any act that could lead to electoral and other related offences,” the ICPC senior agent stated.

(NAN)