THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Oyi LGA have commenced certification exercise for rented buses for General Election duties.

Chinedu Onyeji, the Oyi LGA electoral officer, while responding to questions from newsmen explained that the exercise was part of the effort toward smooth and peaceful election in the state.

He noted the certification exercise was for easy movement of staff and sensitive materials.

Onyeji commended INEC for extending the collection of permanent voters cards, PVCs, by three days for those unable to obtain them since the exercise started.

“People are coming as expected; we took announcement to churches, radio, town criers, presidents-general and market women.

“For seven days our staff and some National Youth Corps members took the PVCs to the 15 wards and communities from morning to evening to aid faster distribution.

“About 75 percent of PVCs have been collected, 25 percent are those who registered and do not reside here again as well as Corps members who served here,’’ he said.

He re-assured the public of their readiness for the General Elections. “We hired and trained some adhoc staff; sensitive materials are all on ground.

“We have educated the voters but the majority of the education lies with political parties.

“Security arrangements have been made but tell your children to eschew violence and vote with their conscience,” he cautioned.

M C Ononiwu, the Oyi FRSC Route commander, said they certified not less than 20 buses.

“The exercise is to ensure that buses to be used for the election are in good condition,” he said.

Ononiwu lamented late arrival of some bus drivers for the exercise.

BE

– Feb. 13, 2019 @ 18:00 GMT |