The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is giving assurances that the governorship elections holding in Kogi and Bayelsa states about three months from now would be free and fair.

The Acting Chairman of INEC, Amina Zakari, said this afternoon on Channels Television that everything has been put in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

“We do a by-election within a month with the time we get information from the National Assembly if there’s a vacancy, but this is about three months/four months. I think we’ve been adequately prepared and remember, we just came out of the national election and we have already met some purchases of some non-sensitive materials. What is remaining for us is to put our acts together,” she said.

The Acting INEC Chairman also commented on the controversy surrounding her appointment.

“I think we should not distract ourselves from the issues at hand. I have been in the commission, I’m a National Commissioner,” she said, adding:

“I passed through the Senate screening to become a National Commissioner and by virtue of that, I am appointed Acting Chairman in the commission, so there shouldn’t have been much controversy. But be it as it may, I have a job to do and I am set out to do that job,” she added.

•Photo shows Ag. INEC Chairman, Amina Zakari.