Election: If INEC procures 193 generators in Kwara, it needs 7,141 nationwide
Fresh hurdle on powering election gadgets and systems has emerged for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This is as INEC office in Awka, the Anambra State capital went up in flames on Tuesday afternoon. the inferno is coming barely two days the Inspector general of Police, Mr. Adamu Mohammed had directed his officers and men to begin 24 hours surveillance at all INEC offices to tame the sudden regime of fire at INEC offices. Business Hilights South East Bureau chief reports that the fire started at a 40 feet container housing critical materials already brought in for the general elections. Moves made to speak with the Anambra INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji and PRO, Mr. Leo Nkedife failed at press time.
However, revelations from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara State, Garba Attahiru-Madami, who disclosed that the Commission has procured 193 new generators for use during Saturday’s elections in the state, means that across the 36 states and Abuja, the Commission is in need of 7,141 generators on or before Saturday morning.
Already, political observers say the inability to get the generators may serve as a dangerous loophole to derail the election.
The REC spoke on Tuesday in Ilorin at a dialogue for peaceful election in Kwara, organised by the UN in partnership with the National Peace Committee (NPC).
According to INEC, the 193 generators would be deployed to all registration areas in the state where results would be collated at the ward level but was silent on what happens to other states in the event of power outage during election.
He told the gathering that the Smart Card Readers for accreditation of voters are now 99 percent accurate.
Even though Attahiru-Madami claimed that everything was ready for the smooth conduct of election on Saturday, he was economical with words on if the requisite number of generators is on ground across all the states and Abuja.
