The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will deploy about 4,600 ad hoc staff for the permanent voters’ card registration and revalidation exercise starting in Anambra State on August 15, 2014.

This was announced yesterday by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, while briefing reporters during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security held at the state INEC headquarters in Awka.

He said that the training of staff, which include members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), for the three-day exercise would kick-off on Monday next week, August 11.

Prof. Onukogu explained that about 101 zero units, which were not captured during the last elections, would be captured this time around.

“At least 58 of such units were located in Awka South Local Government Area, while the rest were located in the other local government areas,” he said.

The Anambra REC called on all eligible voters who lost their voters’ cards during the flood disaster of two years ago to come to the commission, assuring that he would personally issue them new cards if their names were found in the voters’ register.

“A special team from Abuja is already in the state and has started the test-running of all the laptops to be used for the exercise to ensure that there would be no hitches when they would be put to use,” he said.

Prof. Onukogu also announced that a stakeholders’ meeting has been slated for August 12 in Awka to be addressed by the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano. He said that the commission has written all churches and mosques to sensitise the people adequately before the exercise.

The Anambra REC disclosed that prospective voters would collect their permanent voters’ cards on the spot, assuring that the commission is doing everything possible to ensure the success of the exercise.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Police, Usman Gwary, asked those who have nothing to do with the exercise to steer clear of the venues, warning that anybody who tries to foment trouble during the exercise would be arrested.

•Photo shows Anambra REC, Prof. Onukaogu.

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