The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Kaduna State, Prof. Saidu Babura-Ahmad, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission, will credibly conduct the three bye-elections in the state scheduled for August 16,2025.

Mr Babura-Ahmad spoke on Friday in Kaduna during a ‘One-day Stakeholder Engagement,’ on the forthcoming polls in three constituencies.

He listed them to include: Chikun and Kajuru Federal Constituency as well as Zaria Kewaye and Zaria Sabon Gari State Constituencies.

He said, “This meeting was convened for me to introduce myself to you as the new REC, who is here for an important national assignment and will be fair to all in the state. We are also here to duly intimate you on our robust preparations for the upcoming bye-elections in these affected constituencies.”

According to him, the polls will be conducted in 33 registration areas, having 1,169 polling units.

Mr Babura-Ahmad added that about 4,829 ad hoc staff would conduct the elections with the commission using 947 assorted vehicles during the exercise.

The REC further said that the commission was engaged in 24-hour activities to ensure that the exercise was successfully conducted.

Mr Babura-Ahmad said, “We are leaving no stone unturned in our determination to conduct free, credible and transparent polls. We are also actively collaborating with the stakeholders to provide a level-playing ground for all the political parties and their chosen candidates. We are also doing the same with all the security agencies to ensure the provision of adequate security for our personnel and the electorate before, during and after the polls.”

The don added that the commission made special arrangements to ensure that no voter in any of the security black spots was disenfranchised.

According to him, plausible arrangements were also being made to fully cover the hard-to-reach areas, using any possible means of transportation.

Mr Babura-Ahmad said, “We will therefore need the sustained support of all the critical stakeholders to ensure the conduct of a hitch-free exercise.”

Also speaking, the commission’s state Administrative Secretary, Yakubu Duku, said that it was working to address the observed lapses during the 2023 general elections and some previous bye-elections in the state

He stated, “We will remain determined and resolute in conducting polls that will be truly free, fair and acceptable to all.’’

The state Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, urged the people of the state to continue to be law-abiding, vowing, “we will deploy adequate personnel to fully secure the exercise.”

The state Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Hassan Ibrahim, also promised that the union would render its usual assistance to the commission to enable it conduct successful polls.

The state Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Gambo Santos and the Kaduna Zonal Manager of NAN, Bashir Rabe-Mani, stressed the critical roles of the media in ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections across the globe.

The Head of Department, Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Organisations, Hajiya Rukaiyatu Sani-Imam, noted some ongoing activities to fully mobilise the electorate in the affected constituencies and across the state.

Several other speakers praised INEC for convening the meeting, underscoring the need to take steps to tackle voter apathy and the prevailing security challenges in parts of the state including in some of the three affected constituencies.

(NAN)