ICPC deploys operatives to monitor elections in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) has deployed its operatives to monitor the gubernatorial elections taking place in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states on Saturday.

In a statement on Thursday in Abuja, the Commission’s Spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, confirmed this deployment.

According to the commission, the operatives have been positioned across the 56 local government areas and 649 wards in these three states where the elections are scheduled to occur.

Ogugua noted that their primary tasks include monitoring and preventing activities such as vote-buying and other electoral malpractices at the various polling units during the election.

She said, “The monitoring exercise is a response to the invitation by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for ICPC to participate in ensuring that the electoral processes in these three states are free and fair.”

The ICPC Head of Special Duties Division (SDD), Mr. Alex Chukwura, urged the operatives to collaborate with other agencies during this exercise.

Before deployment, Chukwura emphasized the need for cooperation with the military, police, Department of State Security, other security agencies, and INEC to ensure the elections’ fairness.

He added that officers should always act with discipline and imbibe the spirit of integrity while on the field, and also stay close to each other and work as a team to achieve the desired goal.

“Voters in the three states aforesaid are charged to go out on election day and perform their civic responsibilities while avoiding any act that could lead to electoral and other related offences,” he said.