Posted by To ensure a legitimate and peaceful governorship election in Imo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reached out to traditional leaders and religious organizations for their assistance.
Before the off-season Governorship Election on November 11 in the state, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Prof. Sylvia Agu urged religious leaders in Owerri to encourage their followers to vote.
Agu said that the gathering was necessary because of their responsibility to lead their followers in establishing legitimate government.
To paraphrase, “Let us know what we’re doing to bring the process back, and help us renew the hopes of the people by mobilizing your members against voting apathy.
You can motivate them to become law-abiding, patriotic citizens by interacting with them.
Agu asked for help in getting people to the polls and keeping their votes safe in accordance with electoral guidelines. “We request that you partner with INEC in sensitizing and encouraging your members to actively participate in the election process,” he added.
People in the Orsu council area should pick up their PVCs from the Owerri office for safety reasons, but she emphasized that the current issuing of PVCs would stop on Monday, October 9.
All non-sensitive materials have been inventoried by the commission and grouped together by Registration Area.
Election equipment, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, has arrived in the state and is currently being set up for the next election.
Registration Area Camps (RACs) must be activated to reduce the travel time of election officials and supplies on election day and allow early commencement of voting, she said, citing a requirement from the commission.
Agu promised the public that there would be no recurrence of the sabotage seen during the general elections by stressing that proper arrangements had been made for the shipment of materials and the training of ad hoc workers.
It was not INEC’s intention to cause any distress. She reassured the nation, “With God on our side, we will succeed. We did our best in the last elections, and we ask for your continued prayer for our country.”
Mr Sunny Odoemene, General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Imo State, responded by calling on INEC to take all necessary measures to reduce voter apathy.
Odoemene also requested that the commission make it a policy for election personnel to post the results at each polling place before departing to prevent voter fraud.