AERNAN LUBEM
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has said over 100,000 vehicles and about 4,200 boats will be needed to convey personnel and sensitive materials to the various polling units in the 2023 general elections.
This is as he assured Nigerians of the timely arrival of materials and personnel on Election Day.
Speaking at the signing of the revised Memorandum of Understanding between INEC and road transport and marine workers’ unions in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, Yakubu explained that the revised MoU had been designed to facilitate the successful deployment of personnel and materials on Election Day.
But political parties said the commission should have called for bids rather than settle for transport unions based solely on their national identities.
Highlighting the logistics required for the polls, Yakubu said, “The 2023 general election will involve the nationwide deployment of over 1 million personnel and massive quantities of materials twice within two weeks from INEC state offices to 774 local government areas, 8,809 electoral wards, and 176,846 polling units across the length and breadth of the country.
He said the undertaking must be accomplished in the next 66 days and INEC is resolute in doing so to give Nigerians a pleasant voting experience.
The president of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Yusuf Othman said the signing will enhance easy and timely movements of sensitive materials to the polling unit.
