INEC Reassures On Free And Fair Anambra Governorship Election

^{WRITTEN BY NGOZI OBILERI}
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, in Anambra State, has assured that it will conduct a free, fair and credible election in Anambra come November 18th.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Mr Nkwachukwu Orji, emphasized this in Awka during the opening ceremony of a two day workshop organized by the INEC in the state.

The workshop was attended by INEC Electoral Officers from all the twenty one local government areas of the state, and representatives from civil society organizations in and around Anambra State.

The INEC Resident Commissioner said contrary to insinuations and speculations that the election would be marred because of issues arising from the call from some groups for the boycott of the election and the security challenges in the south Eastern states, the commission has put all necessary measures in place and is working tirelessly to ensure that the election records outstanding success.

Mr Orji said the workshop was also aimed at providing opportunity for them to evaluate the last continuous voter registration exercise in the state to enable them compile the voters register and make it public on or before October eighteenth.

In a speech, the representative of Nigeria Civil Society Situation room, Mr Clement Nwankwo, reminded the Civil society organizations of their duties and obligations towards a successful election in terms of sensitization, election monitoring and observation.

Mr Nwankwo frowned at the idea of flooding voting points with military presence saying that the police is properly equipped to man polling units within the confines of the law, as according to him the presence of military men Will contribute to the aparthy already building up.

Some of the Electoral Officers from Idemili North, Mr Tope Ayeleso, and his Aguata counterpart Mr Ernest Nnagbor, noted that they are well paid civil servants who cannot be bought over or succumb to any pressure from any angle to do anything different from the trainings and the ethics of their job while the Administrative Secretary INEC, Mr Charles Mbanaja, expressed optimism that election must hold in November eighteenth as planned, urging all to support the move in the interest of all.