Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, says the upcoming September 28 election is open to all political parties and promised to uphold the people’s mandate by conducting free, fair and credible polls in all the council areas of the state.

 

The Chairman of ANSIEC, Mrs. Genevieve Osakwe, a magistrate, gave the assurance while addressing stakeholders in Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South Local Government Areas during the commission’s ongoing tour of the council areas in the state.

 

 

The stakeholders who attended the meeting during the tour included traditional rulers, Presidents General, religious leaders, representatives of political parties, candidates and captains of industry.

 

The stakeholders’ meeting was used as a platform for interaction and brainstorming on issues or concerns that might hinder the success of the upcoming local government area elections.

 

Addressing the stakeholders of the three council areas, the ANSIEC boss re-assured all political parties and candidates of a level playground and that they remain resolute in their commitment to serve the people as the upcoming election will be decided by people’s votes.

 

She reiterated Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s support and commitment to the commission to conduct a world class election devoid of violence and irregularities and remarked that the commission is for nobody but for the voice of the people.

 

She underscored the importance of the local government tour which she said was aimed at educating and sensitizing stakeholders on the upcoming council election in the state so as to enable them mobilize and educate their subjects, followers and residents in order not to be discouraged by desperate politicians who are bent on using misinformation as a weapon to disenfranchise the electorate.

 

While asking the stakeholders to relate the information to their communities and wards, Mrs. Osakwe who was represented by the Commissioner in-charge of Information and Publicity, Sir Anthony Nnalue, charged the local government areas to provide every necessary support to have a hitch-free elections and to protect sensitive materials that will be used in election.

 

She said only voters with their permanent voter cards, PVCs will be allowed to vote in the election.

 

Also speaking, the Commissioner in-charge of Legal Services and Security, Barrister Osita Igbokwe charged political parties, candidates and major actors in the election to see the election as a brotherly exercise and to judiciously follow the law in the conduct of their campaigns.

 

The stakeholders in attendance, collectively, praised ANSIEC for the process so far and assured the commission that they will be in the forefront to ensure that polls are free, fair, credible and transparent in the old Aguata region.