Polls: NYSC withdraws over 100 corpers from Imo LGs

Over 100 corps members trained as Electoral Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers in three Local Government Areas of Imo have been withdrawn from their electoral duties in Saturday’s general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State, Prof. Sylvia Agu, stated this on Thursday in Owerri.

She said insecurity was cited as the reason for the withdrawal.

The REC said, “This morning, I received information that all the corps members we trained to work in Okigwe, Orlu, and Orsu local government areas have been withdrawn.

“They say they cannot go to volatile areas, that these areas are terrorist areas.

“I have called the NYSC to appeal to them, but I was told that the scheme has even withdrawn all corps members serving in the three local government areas so as not to risk their lives.”

The REC explained that the corps members withdrew their participation following the commission’s decision to revert to polling units as against the use of stadia in the volatile areas.

Agu, who noted that the commission was considering the use of students for the election.

She said freshers’ training would be organised for the students who volunteer to work in the affected areas as Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, particularly for Okigwe and Orsu.