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This was disclosed by the ODIEC Chairman, Prof. Gbenga Ige and the State Police Commissioner, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harriso at a security meeting organised for the poll on Tuesday at the Police Officers’ Mess in Akure, the state capital.
Though, only few out of the 16 political parties participating in the poll were present, the meeting had in attendance Governor Olusegun Mimiko, represented by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on political matters, Mr. Akin Akinbobola, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi and Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the State, Mrs. Bosede Daramola.
Others include include representatives of Furniture Association, National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), Hausa Communities, African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ige said the ad-hoc staff were distributed to different categories for the poll.
He listed the categories as presiding officers, supervising presiding officers, ward collation and local government returning officers.
The ODIEC chairman said the commission was well prepared, adding that sensitive materials for the poll would arrived the state tomorrow.
According to him, “the non-sensitive materials are already in the various councils and the sensitive materials would arrived the state on Thursday.
“Immediately, we will start the distribution and all political parties that will participate in the poll will be present at the distribution.
“You know election is a process and only ends on the day of voting and we are hoping that on April 23, we will conduct a free and fair poll”.
Also, the Police Commissioner said they would ensure that the state which had been enjoying peace would not turn to a political violent field before and after the poll.
She noted that the police was collaborating with other security agencies to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order by political miscreants.
“We have been able to tell our people that thuggery and violence will not be tolerated during the election.
“We are expecting our people to be law abiding and they should go about exercising their civic right in accordance with the provisions of the laws.
“Therefore, we are deploying more than 6000 policemen to all the 18 local government areas of the state”, the CP said.
