- Says we’re ready for election
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) professor Sylvia Agu has disclosed that 2300 soldiers would be deployed for the Imo Sate governorship election in November 11.
She disclosed this yesterday during a 2 day media roundtable/engagement on Imo governorship election organised by the International Press Centre(IPC) and supported by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria- phase 2 (EU – SDGN II) in Owerri the Imo State capital on Thursday.
According to Agu,the commission got the assurance after it paid a courtesy visit to the 34 Artillery Brigade,Obinze,Brigadier General Usman Lawal on their preparation for the November,11 governorship election in the State.
She said “We have been assured of adequate security, we visited the army and we’re expecting about 2300 soldiers, 3 battalions”.
Speaking on the recently conducted Presidential and National Assembly election in the State ,she admitted that that there were flaws but caused by the adhoc staff who she said declined participation on the eve of the election over alleged security issues.
” I can tell you that we had the problem we had during the presidential and National Assembly election because of sabotage ,some of our adhoc staff declined to work on the eve of the election, but that was corrected during State assembly election.
Agu have equally slammed her critics who have questioned the result of the State Assembly elections cleared by the All Progressive Congress (APC),described as ‘magic’ ,winning 25 out of 27 seats. She maintained that their commission remained unbias in the said election.
“INEC has responsibilities, I believe I did my duties, we distributed materials in front of party agents from the CBN office,I never designated the duty to anybody, that morning I even went to two council areas.
” I’m the REC ,I did not go to the field to conduct the election, my workers did ,we have no report except from Ideato South and Isu ,I have my people on the field,they’re my eyes,so there was no magic,result was declared in all the LGAs except two and it was brought to my table.
Meanwhile, the REC has assured of the readiness of her commission to conduct the November, 11 governorship election in the State,all modalities for the election she said is almost being taken care of.
In his welcome remarks at the event,Mr Akin Akingbolu,the Executive Director Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO)enjoined journalists covering the election to maintain fairness,balance and impartiality in their reportage.