All is now set for Saturday’s off – cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states as the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), security agencies and the antigraft agencies have all confirmed their readiness and have perfected their plans towards having a free, fair and conducive exercise.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said in a statement that: “We have delivered all sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the elections. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) have been configured for deployment to Polling Units as the only means of voter verification and fingerprint/facial biometric authentication of voters. Polling Unit results will be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. All election duty officials have been trained”,

“As I said repeatedly, not least during my recent readiness assessment visits to the three States, INEC is not a political party and we have no candidate in the election. Our responsibility is to safeguard the process and ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates. The choice of who becomes the Governor of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States is entirely in the hands of voters”,he said.

In the same vein, the Minister of State for Defence Alhaji Bello Matawalle, assured residents and electorate in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states of their safety and protection during Saturday’s off-season elections.

“Adequate arrangements have been made for security agencies to deal decisively with any noise maker and anyone who wants to foment trouble or crises during the elections.

“The military will be available, ’24/7′, for anyone who wants to contact them.

“I, particularly, will be in the office within the period of the election so as to ensure safety in the three states. We shall protect the people.

“We shall ensure that the three states will be safe and the people protected.

“I assure Nigerians that the elections will be held amicably; nothing will happen to anyone.

“The elections will be conducted in these states peacefully,” the minister said.

Also , the Defence Headquarters warned troublemakers to “stay away from the governorship elections or face injurious consequences from the military.”

Major General Edward Buba, the Director, Defence Media Operations gave the warning while briefing journalists on the operations of the armed forces on in Abuja.

Major General Buba said the military was aware of plans by some individuals to dress in military uniform to disrupt the electoral processes in the three states on Saturday.

His words: “for the off-season elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states this weekend, here is a message for those who planned to disrupt the process.

“We are aware of your plans to dress in military gear to mislead the public. Be assured of injurious consequences should you proceed with those plans.

“We will not allow our image to be dragged to the mud. You’re warned”, adding that security agencies are ready to identify and differentiate between real soldiers and the fake ones”, he warned.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) said her Operatives are on ground in the three states to check vote buying and other vices .

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

The spokesperson of the Commission,Ms. Azuka Ogugua, said in a statement in Abuja said the commission’s operatives have been deployed to the 56 local government areas and 649 Wards in the three states where the election would be held.

Ms Ogugua said that the operatives were to among others monitor and prevent vote buying and other electoral malpractices at the various polling units during the election.

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

She said that the ICPC Head of Special Duties Division (SDD), Mr. Alex Chukwura, called on the operatives to collaborate with other sister agencies during the exercise.

For Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi state, the Police deployed 40,000 policemen and officers in response to threat level in the state.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police overseeing Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State, Mr. Habu Sani, said :”Our deployment is proportional to the threat levels identified before election”

“40,000 personnel and officers have been mobilised to neutralise any untoward happening before, during and after the election”, he said.

He said those not yet on ground are either on transit or will take off on Friday to arrive early enough for the election.

According to him, all the 3,500 polling units in the state would be adequately covered adding that nobody would be allowed for disruption of the election.

Mr Sani confirmed Inspector General of Police Mr Olukayode Egbetokun of movement restrictions on election day as only those on essential duties would be allowed to move after they have been issued with tags.

He called on members of the public who might have useful information to contact the police control room whose number and that of the officers in charge of each zone would be circulated.