INEC returns sensitive materials to CBN in Anambra, Enugu

By John Ndu, Awka & Moses Oyediran, Enugu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra state says it has started taking custody of materials deployed for Saturday’s postponed elections to ensure their safety. Head Voter Education and Publicity, INEC state headquarters in Awka, Leo Nkedife stated this in a telephone interview. Nkedife explained that all ballot papers and result sheets were being returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Awka from where they would be subsequently distributed to various polling units. He also announced that the smart card readers were being delivered to the state INEC headquarters for adequate protection, but however, could not confirm the number of local governments that have returned electoral materials. Similarly, the Enugu state Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Commission (INEC), Dr. Emeka Ononamadu disclosed that it has began the process of retrieving all sensitive already distributed materials across the 17 council areas of the state. The commissioner disclosed this to newsmen at a stakeholders meeting in Enugu after the postponement of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly election. “The process of retrieving the materials from the various registration area centres to the custody of Central Bank of Nigeria branch in Enugu has begun. “Most materials for Enugu were already on their way to the various registration area centres before the news of the cancellation came. Ononamadu disclosed that they have yielded to the directive from the INEC headquarters Abuja, adding that “we have been directed to return all the sensitive materials to the CBN, Enugu. The process to ensure the safety of all the election materials will be ensured. “They will be in the protective custody of the CBN under heavy security presence until Wednesday when it will be moved back with the assistance of security personnel back to the council areas for onward distribution to the various registration area centres under heavy security as well.”