The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deployed about 952 National Youth Service Corps members to conduct the House of Representatives bye-election today, October 22, 2011 in Balanga/Billiri federal constituency of Gombe State.
In a press conference, the interim resident electoral commissioner, Malam Sadiq Abubakar Musa, disclosed that about five political parties would be contesting the position. He added that the contestants are Yila Yamo Mustapha for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Emmanuel Amos for the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Mela Nunge, for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Kaftin Malala Amuga, for the Labour Party, and Yusuf Manu Swa for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
?Sadiq said the election would be conducted in 20 registration areas and 317 polling units with a total 195,783 registered voters, all within Balanga/Billiri federal constituency.
?He added that over 1,000 security personnel had been deployed to monitor the exercise at the various locations, saying that accreditation would start from 8am to 12pm when the voting is expected to commence.
The REC assured of perfect and successful conduct of the election, adding that all contesting parties would be treated equally, without fear or favour.
Also, all the corps members would be protected by both the communities and security operatives while on duty at the various election areas.
He, however, urged all the contesting parties and the people of Balanga/Billiri to be law-abiding so that the election would be conducted peacefully.