The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is committed to entrenching sound democratic principles in Nigeria and meeting international standards of election management and processes.
Mr Ethelbert Oranebo, the Electoral Officer in Okigwe Local Government area of Imo, made the commitment on Wednesday.
He made the pledge at a town hall meeting of Okigwe Stakeholders with the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Prof. Francis Ezeonu.
Oranebo, who was represented by Mr Ndubueze Nwaokoro, the Secretary Okigwe Local Government, said the meeting was to partner with major stakeholders in the electoral process.
He said that the meeting was also to fine tune strategies to ensure all inclusive processes.
Orange said that the electoral commission in the local government area had successfully concluded the first, second and third phases of registration of voters, stressing that they were in the first of the 2018 exercise.
According to Oranebo, the commission has successfully concluded the movement of Direct Data Capture Machine (DDC) in four wards in the local government namely, Ihube, Ogii, Umualumoke and Umulolo.
He said that of the total 51,770 voters registered between 2014 and 2015, 17, 464 voter cards were yet to be collected in the local government.
“Today, this town hall meeting is being organised purposely to create awareness with the view to promoting mass participation in the electoral process in Okigwe local government in particular and Imo in general,” he said.
Oranebo thanked the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and the Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity for the cooperation and support.
He urged stakeholders to continue to assist the commission for it to be able to impart knowledge about the procedure and encourage positive attitude and behavour that would make the exercise in Okigwe free from violence and malpractices.
Prof. Francis Ezeonu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, stressed the importance of stakeholders, saying that INEC could not do it alone.
He expressed regret for the lo turn out of people at the ongoing voter registration exercise and urged participants to take the message on the need for everyone to get registered back to the community.
The electoral commissioner said he had been meeting with stakeholders from political, religious, women groups, youth leaders, civil society organisations and others on the voter registration and would carry the sensitization to all the 27 local government areas of the state.
Ezeonu said that the Anambra election was a testimony that it would no longer be business as usual as the commission had put things in place to ensure peoples’ votes counted.
“INEC is making efforts to tighten the ropes to avoid rigging.
“Power is now in the hand of the people. It is no more business as usual; no more re-writing of results. Power has shifted to the voters. Party members are therefore advised to engage in effective campaign,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the stakeholders commended INEC for the sensitisation exercise.
They, however, complained of the limited number of days assigned for the voter registration in each ward.
They equally complained of delay in collection of permanent voter cards and the limited number of registration machines, which they said, would make it difficult for all persons to be captured within the time frame.
Mr Emeka Ozurumba, Zonal Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Okigwe, expressed gratitude to INEC on the enlightenment campaign and the manner it conducted the Anambra election.
Mr Tony Azumugha, the Special Adviser to Sen. Ben Uwajimogu, a Member Representing Okigwe Senatorial Zone, also complained of low turnout of people for the registration.
He urged INEC to bring out more machines to ensure more eligible voters would be registered.
