Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will deploy about 17,000 ad hoc staff for the forthcoming general election in the state.
Chukwu, who disclosed this in Enugu at a news briefing said that the 17,000 ad hoc staff would be deployed to 4,145 polling units in across the 260 wards of the state.
According to him, each polling unit would be manned by three or four ad hoc officials who are: Assistant Presiding Officer (APO)-1, APO-2, PO-1 and PO-2 as well as at least a supervisor.
The Commissioner admitted that it has not been easy getting 17,000 ad hoc staff.
“This added number of ad hoc staff, unlike previous elections, is due to the newly created polling units which must be accommodated and provided for.
“The expansion of the polling units, which led to creation of more polling units, was done by INEC about two years ago,” he said.
Chukwu said the additional polling units were created for the purpose of making the polling units less numerous and closer (more accessible) to the vast majority of voters in the localities.
He, however, noted that each of the new polling units was close to the old ones.
“It was carved out or created from; within the same neighbourhood and local registration area of INEC,” he said.
