The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the preparation for the Saturday by-election in Dekina-Okura Constituency of Kogi State has been completed.
Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oliver Agundu, disclosed this in Lokoja on Tuesday, during an interview with newsmen.
The by-election follows the death of former Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Enema Paul, on December 14, 2024, after a prolonged illness.
Agundu, through INEC’s Education Officer, Haruna Halliru, said that the commission had held a meeting of Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to strategise on securing personnel and materials during and after the polls.
He noted that all non-sensitive materials had already been deployed to the local government, while sensitive materials were expected to arrive between Wednesday and Thursday.
Training for Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), who are mostly INEC staff, has been completed, along with the training for Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) in Anyigba from August 8 to 10. “All non-sensitive materials have been deployed to the local government and we are only waiting for the arrival of the sensitive materials on Wednesday or Thursday.
“We have concluded the training of our SPOs, who are mainly INEC staff in readiness for the election”, he said.
According to him, only five candidates from five political parties will be contesting in the election, listing the parties as: Accord, African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
The REC assured stakeholders of a free, fair, transparent, and credible election, urging all registered voters in the constituency to turn out in large numbers, maintain order, and vote for the candidates of their choice.
