165 INEC OFFICERS FOR FRESH POLL IN BORNO -INEC

A total of 165 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been mobilized for this weekend's fresh election into the Kwaya Kusar State Assembly Constituency seat in Borno.

INEC Commissioner in the state, Prof. Tukur Sa'ad told journalists during a news briefing in Maiduguri that the 165 electoral officers for the Saturday election include returning officers, 10 collation officers as well as presiding and supervising officers both at the ward and polling units.

Sa'ad disclosed that National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members would be used as polling officers, adding that they would be assisted by some undergraduates of the University of Maiduguri. 'You know there are fewer members of NYSC in Borno now due to the security situation and that is why we decided to complement the NYSC members with undergraduates of the University of Maiduguri,' he said.

He said a total of 41, 996 registered voters were expected to participate in the poll even as he appealed to the security agencies to ensure the election was held in a peaceful atmosphere. 'Though we've held meetings with the security agencies in the state and they have assured us of their commitment to ensure peaceful conduct but we are still using this opportunity to appeal to them because Kwaya Kusar shares border with Biu Local Government, which is currently covered by the state of emergency,' the INEC commissioner stated.

He also said only Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress (ACN) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would participate in the poll, adding that the ANPP candidate and the party had been disqualified by the court order, having filed fake academic qualifications for the election.

The Kwaya Kusar State Assembly Constituency became vacant following the cancellation of the election of the winner of the ANPP candidate, Abubakar Ibrahim by the Election Petitions Tribunal. The Election Petitions Tribunal in Borno had quashed the election of Abubakar Ibrahim, the then ANPP candidate in the April 2011 State Assembly Election for not possessing the required qualification to contest the seat. The ruling of the tribunal was also upheld by the Court of Appeal, which ordered that fresh election be conducted in the area.