By NAN
Prof. Lai Olurode, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Training and Research, says that the commission has recruited 12,000 NYSC members as ad hoc staff for the Nov. 16 governorship election in Anambra.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that training of the NYSC members had commenced.
Olurode, who is also the Chairman of the Board of the Electoral Institute, said that the training was aimed at preparing them adequately for the election duties.
He said that the use of NYSC members as ad hoc staff was in line with the NYSC management’s pledge to assist INEC in efforts to conduct hitch-free elections in the country.
He said that in the lead-up to the governorship polls in Anambra, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, would be in the state next week to address the stakeholders.
Olurode said that due to the fact that Anambra did not have the required number of NYSC members that was required, more corps members were recruited from Delta and Enugu states to make up for the shortfall.
He also said that some NYSC directors were also involved in the exercise.
“Although INEC do not envisage any crisis during the election, the commission had met with the Inter-Agency Committee on Election Security on plans to provide adequate security.
“The commission has put in place effective collaboration to ensure the safety and security of the ad hoc staff and all other necessary inputs to promote efficiency and the election’s credibility,’’ Olurode said
Olurode gave the assurance that INEC would ensure that the people’s votes counted.
He, however, noted that the commission had attained a measure of success in the collation of results, timely delivery of election materials and arrival of electoral officers at their polling units.
Olurode stressed that the commission would create a level-playing field for all the candidates, while securing the polling arena so as to forestall any party’s efforts to intimidate the electorate.
He said that INEC would guard against voter apathy, fear of violence and hijack of ballot boxes.
