Sokoto rerun: INEC engages EFCC, ICPC to monitor elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared its readiness to conduct free and fair re-run elections for two State House of Assembly and two Federal Constituency seats in Sokoto State.

Speaking on the rerun elections billed for  January 25th, 2020, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Malam Sadiq Abubakar, said on Thursday at a stakeholders’ forum that the commission was ready to partner the state security agencies, anti-graft agencies and other stakeholders in conducting free and fair elections in the state.

According to Malam Abubakar, “the two anti-corruption agencies will be actively involved in the conduct of rerun and supplementary elections in Sokoto State.

“The resolve to involve the two anti-corruption agencies, EFCC and ICPC among other security agencies, is to ensure credible and most transparent rerun elections in the state.

“The commission would, henceforth, involve the two agencies in all its activities till eternity.”

Sadiq assured the people of the state that they would leave no stone unturned in ensuring the success of the elections.

In his remarks, the representative of EFCC, Barrister Uchenna Edeh, warned stakeholders in the election process against compromising, which he said would amount to a criminal offense.

“Our presence will not only be seen but felt as we will monitor all the election processes. We will ensure votes are collated and announced at the appropriate time and place,” he said

Speaking on behalf of security agencies, the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Kaoje said no less than 10 security personnel would man each of the affected polling units.

Meanwhile, the head of the department, Election and Party monitoring for INEC, Malam Mukhtar Ibrahim, disclosed that not less than 39 political parties will participate in the process.

He called on the participating political parties to submit the list of their party agents latest seven days before Election Day.

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