A three day training of 3,440 corp members by the Independent National Electoral Commission in preparation for the forthcoming bye-election on the 3rd of December, in the Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency in Lagos had commenced. The figure was given by John Idem, the Director/Administrative Secretary of the Electoral Institute of INEC in Abuja during the inspection tour of the training locations in Lagos on Thursday.
According to Idem, the corps members were taken from the five local government areas of the state, which include: Alimosho, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi/Isolo and Ifako-Ijaiye Local Governments where the elections would take place. He also said that the corps members together with INEC staff in nearby local governments would be serving as Presiding Officers across the 335 polling units and 687 voting points in the constituency.
Idem told the corp members to take the task as a test of their national commitment. He admonished them to see it as an opportunity as not all corps members have the privilege to participate. He added that 3,440 corps members are expected to be drawn across the five local government areas in the state but only 3,190 will be deployed with the rest of them serving as reserves. He charged INEC staff and other poll officers to guard the image of the commission in the election by sticking to the job ethics.
The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has charged INEC with the obligation of conducting, organizing and supervising elections. He also said that the success or failure of the elections will be the responsibility of INEC to bare. He made this clear in his words; “As many of our staff that are involved in the process in whatever capacity, the entire process, whether success or otherwise, will be charged on them. If the election fails, nobody will say any other stakeholder failed, nobody will say NYSC members failed, nobody will say university lecturers have failed, they always say INEC has failed. Let everyone protect the image of INEC and make sure the commission is not brought into disrepute. Let’s be careful so as not to dent the image of the commission. We must not take anything for granted. Let’s rise up to the occasion.’’
He pleaded with the academics that would be involved in assembling and declaration of results to know that the duty was enormous. Idem, also advised all stakeholders, politicians and their supporters to cooperate with INEC. For the time being, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in Lagos State, Clement Oha, said that the commission had also began the training of Assistant Presiding Officers at the same time, in order to guarantee a successful poll.
Oha told NAN that the commission decided to hold the training in four locations in the state to avoid overcrowding and enhance easy training. However, the INEC boss charged the corps members to be punctual, honest and neutral while carrying out their responsibilities on the day of the elections.
According to Oha, Nigerians and the international community are watching the conduct of the commission in carrying out a free and fair election; therefore, all poll officers should be vigilant. Six political parties were reported by the News Agency of Nigeria that would contest in the poll. These parties include: Action Alliance, Alliance for Democracy, African Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party.
NAN further reports that Elijah Adewale, who represented the constituency in the House of Representatives, died in Abuja on July 20.
