Awka- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would deploy no fewer than 20, 000 personnel for the conduct of the February 14 elections in Anambra.
The commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Edwin Nwatarali, made the disclosure when he visited the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) office in Awka.
He said that INEC would engage four officials in each of the 4,900 polling units in the state.
Nwatarali explained that the visit was to strengthen the partnership between the commission and NYSC and other critical agencies involved in the conduct of elections in the country.
He described the synergy between both organisations as ‘’important’’ in the conduct of transparent elections, and further solicited the support of the corps to ensure the success of the polls.
He said that INEC had strengthened its accreditation processes for persons involved in the election duties ‘’to guard against manipulation’’.
He assured corps members that they would not be cheated in the payment of their allowances for the exercise.
Nwatarali also stated that INEC had concluded arrangement with security agencies to curb electoral violence and protect the lives of officials and materials during the elections.
Responding, the NYSC Director in the state, Mrs Isioma Odigwe, commended the commissioner for the assurances he made and appealed to him for prompt payment of allowances to NYSC members that would engage for election duties.
She also urged the commission to release postings the corps’ personnel selected for the duties early, adding that INEC should ensure that adequate transportation arrangement for the corps members was made.
Odigwe said that NYSC was prepared to release no fewer than 6, 000 corps members and 130 staff for election duties in the state.
