Following the Presidential and National Assembly election scheduled for Saturday February 25, 2023 nation wide, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Cross River State Wenesday started distribution of sensitive materials for onward movement to the 18 LGs of the state.
Sensitive election materials distributed by INEC includes Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS), result sheets as well as ballot papers from central bank of Nigeria CBN at the Cross River State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s secretariat Calabar.
Speaking during the sensitive materials distribution,Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere stated that the commission saw the need to extend invitation to all stakeholders in the election to witness the exercise to enable everyone know what is happening so that people can disabuse thier minds of presumed Illegal act.
Yomere averred that the 3281 BVAS to be used for the exercise have been configured to tally with the polling unit where there will be used..
“As for the result sheets, they remained intact the way they were brought from where it came from”.
In another development, security agencies operating in the state, also reassured electorates in the state of their safety during the elections.
Speaking on the issue, Commissioner of Police in charge of elections in the state, Kabiru Ibrahim, stressed that all the flash points in the state would be under serious surveillance to ensure maximum security is given to the state.
“We will be fairy and professional in our duties and we implore all to be orderly during the process as all necessary security protection will be given to all.
Recalled that about 295 candidates would participate in the general elections scheduled for February 25 and March 11 in Cross River State.
Those seeking to occupy political offices would jostle for the 36 elective positions including the seat of Governor, three Senate seats, seven House of Representatives seats and 25 seats in the State House of Assembly.
A breakdown of these figure shows that 11 candidates had been jostling for position state governor, 28 candidates jostling for the Senate, 69 for the House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly with 187 candidates.