Category: South East

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it had put in place sufficient manpower for the conduct of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr. Nwachukwu Orji, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Awka, the state capital.

Orji, who was reacting to viral report that hundreds of ad hoc workers recruited for the Anambra State election resigned en masse, said there was no truth in the publication.

“INEC is still in the process of recruiting the ad hoc workers; in fact, we just finished the last training before this false report.

“As the head of the commission in Anambra State, I am telling you authoritatively that we have more than enough manpower for the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra,” he said.

The INEC official explained that none of the ad hoc workers being recruited had been given engagement letter.

“If we have not issued letters to them, how then can any of them resign?” he queried.

Orji said it was unfair for the media to be aiding publications capable of causing more tension in the polity.

The REC said many people across the country were looking for work to improve their lives, adding that it was bad to publish stories capable of frightening the poor masses.

“Taking INEC jobs during elections has been one means for people who do not have permanent jobs to earn little money.

“Publishing negative report that will scare them is so bad,” he said.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.), has assured Nigerians that security personnel deployed for the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State will ensure that nothing “theatrical happens” during the poll.

He said those planning to destabilise the election should have a rethink because the security agencies would not allow any harm to befall law-abiding residents.

Monguno, who spoke during the General Security Appraisal Committee’s meeting with Service Chiefs and heads of other agencies, assured residents of Anambra State that security agencies would ensure that they elect their next governor without untoward incidents.

“Our intentions, our aspirations are to see that the election does not result in anything that is unwanted, any bloodshed, any violence, intimidation, coercion or even terrorising the people of Anambra State,” he said.

The NSA stressed that the forthcoming election is an avenue for Anambra voters to exercise their fundamental right to choose whoever they want as their governor, and should not be denied that right.

“More importantly, they should not be put in a situation whereby they are reluctant to come out and vote.

“Ours is to instill confidence in the entire Southeast, particularly in Anambra State, to make sure that nothing happens to those people who will come out to vote,” Monguno said.

He assured the people that security agencies had also been told to exhibit the highest level of professionalism, self-restraint, discipline and adherence to what is written in the statute.

“They must make sure that they do not allow themselves to be provoked. This is because we have made them to understand that they owe themselves the responsibility to stay alive. So, they are not going there and sit, allow themselves to be harmed. But at the same time, they will have to work together with the community, the political leadership, to ensure that nothing theatrical takes place.

“We have been assured by the commissioner of police and the Armed Forces have put everything in place to be the second layer to make sure that lives do not loss,” he added.

The NSA said security agents had been directed to obey the law of the land in dealing with the security situation.

“Law enforcement agencies have been mandated to make sure that the election is conducted without rancor. We will behave in conformity with the laws of the land and ensure that the people of Anambra State are protected,” he said.

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 6 election in Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, has decried the poor state of roads in the state.

He promised to restore the state to the days when it had good roads across its 21 local government areas, if elected.

Uba spoke yesterday at Ojoto and Ogidi, both in Idemili North and South local government areas, during a campaign tour of the areas.

The APC standard bearer noted that the prevalence of poor roads across the state under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had cost Anambra huge losses.

He said funds that ought to be channelled to other sectors would be used to rehabilitate roads that do not last beyond one raining season.

Uba lauded the ingenuity of Labour and Employment Minister, who is the APC Leader in the state, for building durable road networks that had lasted beyond 15 years at a time the state’s revenue was meagre.

“For us to get to Ojoto and Ogidi in Idemili South and Idemili North local government areas, we had to traverse several communities – all sitting on good roads built around 15 years ago by Ngige.

“But since we flagged off our local government campaigns in Onitsha North and South Federal Constituency, to Anambra East and West, Oyi and Ayamelum, it has been one hellish movement after another.

“This APGA government has, in fact, frittered away the resources of the state. When they construct low quality roads across the state, they transfer the burden to the taxpayers who have to pay twice, or more, for the same road over a short span of time.

“Presently, there are endless numbers of potholes in the state because of the low quality roads constructed in the state by this APGA administration.

“Immediately my government is inaugurated, by the grace of God, we would face, head-on, the issues of potholes in the state alongside erosions, and subsequently build quality roads that will stand the test of longevity, as the leader of our party, His Excellency, Chris Ngige, did several years ago.”

Also, the APC deputy governorship candidate, Emeka Okafor, who is from Nnobi in Idemili North Local Government Area, urged the voters to stand with him, promising not to let them down.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged persons with disabilities, particularly the visually impaired in Anambra State, to participate actively in the November 6 governorship election.

The electoral umpire assured them that their votes would count.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, spoke at the weekend at a voter education and sensitisation of the visually impaired towards an inclusive governorship election, tagged: Understanding the Braille Ballot Guide.

He said INEC, as part of its all-inclusive policy, had made provisions for visually impaired persons to ensure they exercise their franchise seamlessly.

Orji, who was represented by INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Nimem, said the training was targeted at ensuring that visually impaired voters who could read the braille language would be able to make informed decisions about their preferred candidates on the Election Day.

He said: “With the Braille ballot, the visually impaired don’t necessarily need a guide to interpret to them where to thumbprint, which has been the challenge in the past.

“Hence, all their votes will count because they will be able to vote for the candidates of their choice and not to depend on someone else. It gives the individual voter the feeling that he has made his choice.”

Reassuring the Anambra electorate of transparent poll, Orji urged the participants to carry the message to their colleagues at the grassroots, saying: “We want them to appreciate INEC’s inclusive policy, including offering every eligible voter the chance to participate in the electoral process.”

Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ugochukwu Okeke, thanked INEC for including the visually impaired in the election by creating a Gender and Inclusivity department in addition to the Disability Desk offices in the state.

He said: “This has been one of the challenges we normally present to INEC, that our members, especially the visually impaired, find difficult to vote because the ballot papers are not brailed.

“We’re happy our visually impaired members will no longer cry over disenfranchisement. We’re also happy their aides, who are part of the training, will no longer influence their choices because they will be properly sensitised on how to guide them.

“I assure INEC that the investment in this area won’t be in vain. That’s why we carefully selected those who have voter’s cards to ensure the knowledge garnered in the training will not be wasted.”

Describing the election as crucial to persons with disabilities, Okeke urged his members to come out en mass to vote for their preferred candidates.

He said: “If we refuse to vote, someone who doesn’t have our interest at heart or care about our welfare will emerge.”

The JONAPWD chairman hinted that the security agencies had assured members of the association of tight security before, during and after the election.

Idjerhe people in Ethiope West Council Area of Delta State have appealed to Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to establish an institution of higher learning in the kingdom, to boost development.

They made the appeal yesterday at a thanksgiving and grand reception marking the one year coronation of their monarch, Ovie Monday Arthur Whiskey Udurhie I.

The people urged the government to establish skill acquisition centres and health facilities, noting that it should speedily approve the rehabilitation of the King’s Palace Road at Otorho-Idjerhe.

Ovie Whiskey, who formally presented the kingdom’s requests to the government on behalf of his subjects, hailed Governor Okowa “for the appointments given to worthy Idjerhe sons and daughters.”

He thanked the government for creating an enabling environment for peace co-existence at Idjerhe.

The monarch said: “Idjerhe kingdom is a major player in the oil and gas industry, as we are host to SEPLAT Energy with over 20 corked oil and gas wells.  We appeal to your excellency to use your good office to prevail on SEPLAT Energy to bring these corked oil wells on stream.

“We also plead with his excellency to direct the oil company to convert Idjerhe 17 contract staff who are working with them to permanent positions and adhere to the 20 per cent local content policy of the Federal Government so that Idjerhe kingdom can reap the fruits of its God-given resources.”

The Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Chief Benson Okorodudu, praised the monarch for his “exemplary leadership prowess”.

“The enthronement of Whiskey as the king of Idjerhe has brought about peaceful coexistence among the 84 villages that make up Idjerhe kingdom and our immediate neighbouring communities.

“His foresightedness has opened a floodgate of development in the kingdom in virtually all spheres of life,”

he said