The President of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide Anambra State chapter, Maazi Chukwuma Okpalaezukwu says Saturday’s Anambra Governorship Election is an opportunity for the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, to rebuild the people’s confidence that their votes can actually count.
Okpalaezeukwu disclosed this on Friday, after a meeting of the State Executive Council of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, in Awka, where the organization deliberated on developments so far ahead of the poll.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Okpalaezeukwu said after monitoring pre-election activities, they are satisfied with what the INEC has done so far, but urged the electoral umpire to use the Anambra governorship election to redeem its image.
The Ohaneze Ndigbo Anambra President said the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization will set up a situation room to monitor the election, to ensure that all goes as planned.
“Campaigns have come and gone, and we must commend the political parties for abiding by the rules, which ensured a peaceful campaign period
“Now, Anambra people and Nigerians alike are expecting INEC to deliver as expected, starting from adequate and timely distribution of electoral materials so that voters are not left stranded, down to ensuring that the outcome of the election is credible.
“Before now, many Nigerians had lost faith in the INEC, but with the changes in the institution, we hope that the new INEC chairman, with his pedigree, will live up to expectations.
“We have heard and encountered how poor network had frustrated elections. Now that our voting processes are largely dependent on digital devices such as iREV and BVAS, we are not expecting to encounter what we saw during the voter registration exercise, where the machines do not have sufficient network to function appropriately
“It is expected that the INEC Chairman must seize this opportunity to restore the confidence of Nigerians, especially Anambra people, in the confidence of the commission to conduct credible elections,” he said.
The Anambra Ohanaeze leader observed the massive deployment of security personnel across the state, noting that they appear poised to provide adequate security.
He emphasized that, having gone round the state to sensitize and mobilize the people to defeat voter apathy, the organization is convinced that they will come out en masse to exercise their franchise.
Okpalaezeukwu revealed that the Ohanaeze shall deploy its widespread indigenous structure across the 326 wards in Anambra to closely and effective monitor and observe the process, to ensure that impact is maximized and purpose served.
