ICPC Deploy Operatives To Ensure Fairness In Governorship Elections In Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has mobilized its team to supervise the upcoming governorship elections set to take place on Saturday in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi.

The Spokesperson of the Commission, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

According to her, the commission’s operatives have been assigned to cover the 56 local government areas and 649 Wards across the three states slated for the election.

Ogugua said that the operatives’ duties include monitoring and preventing vote buying and other electoral malpractices at the different polling units during the election.

“The monitoring exercise is a response to the invitation by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for ICPC to participate in ensuring that the electoral processes in these three states are free and fair.”

The Head of SDD instructed the operatives to strictly follow the ICPC guidelines for monitoring elections.

He added that officers must consistently display discipline, uphold the spirit of integrity while in the field, maintain close collaboration, and work as a unified team to accomplish the set objectives.

He also advised the officers to take requisite measures against anyone engaged in corrupt activities during the election, regardless of their social standing, by the law.

“Voters in the three states aforesaid are charged to go out on Election Day and perform their civic responsibilities while avoiding any act that could lead to electoral and other related offenses,” he said.

Kanyi Daily recalls that  Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, had urged voters in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the upcoming governorship elections.