Nigeria Content Online

The Adamawa State
office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
distanced itself from the sample ballot papers circulating in the state
and bearing the INEC logo.

The Resident
Electoral Commissioner for the state, Kassim Gaidam, who issued the
disclaimer, said the ballot papers were designed by some political
parties.

He said the
circulation of sample ballot papers bearing INEC’s logo in the state,
printed by the political parties and showing a thumb print against the
party to educate voters “contravenes the electoral guidelines”.

“In as much as we support voter education, we should do it within the confines of the law,” Mr. Gaidam said.

Ready for polls

The Adamawa INEC
official also revealed that all materials for the election, both
“sensitive and insensitive,” are already on ground for the forthcoming
National Assembly election. He equally stated that all the personnel
for the elections are also in place and have received training for the
exercise.

Mr. Gaidam,
reacting to allegations that politicians have infiltrated some adhoc
staff of the commission in order to rig the forthcoming elections said
election officials are under oath to be fair and fearless.

“This is not the
time to make baseless accusation,” he said. “It is time to come forward
with proof so that those involved can be investigated and fished out.”

The Congress for Progressive Change in the state said yesterday it
had uncovered a plot by some politicians to rig the forthcoming
elections hatched in connivance with some INEC adhoc personnel which
the party said have already being compromised ahead of the polls. The
CPC, however, did not reveal the name of the political party allegedly
dealing with corrupt INEC staff.