The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police have pledged their determination to ensure fair and credible general elections in the South East and the country at large.
The stakeholders assured the people of the Zone that the general election will go ahead despite several security challenges.
He is optimistic that a far-reaching security strategy has been put in place by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure a violence-free, peaceful and most credible election in the zone.
The National Electoral Commission (REC) of INEC in Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the election will “definitely go on” as reiterated by the Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmud Yakubu, in London.
Chukwu said that ICCES has come out with a security plan, which will not be made public, to ensure strong security in developed countries.
He also noted that there will be water security before, during and after the elections in the state.
“Elections will definitely be held in Enugu State. The people of Enugu should relax as we strive for an election that will be more transparent, credible and violence free than any in the history of the state.
“This will be held here and in other parts of Nigeria; We are putting all hands on deck to ensure that it continues.
“People should not be afraid, although we know now that the security situation has calmed down in the country,” he said.
In the same vein, the Commissioner of Police in the country, Mr. Ahmed Ammani, also assured the people that the election will be held.
Ammani said the police in cooperation with its sister security agencies would deal with some pockets of violence or activities of some dissidents in the country.
The commissioner, who is the chairman of ICCES in Enugu State, said the security agencies and formations in the state have devised strategies to ensure continued peace and security in the entire state.
“For some acts of criminality committed by some dissidents, security agencies will deal with the situation swiftly and decisively.
“I assure the troublemakers and saboteurs that anyone who tries to undermine the security of the election will blame themselves,” he said.
Collaborating, Comrade Gabriel Odi, Chairman, Coalition of Youth Leaders of Enugu State Political Parties, said the youths are working for the success of the election by engaging in sensitization for non-violent elections among the youth population.
“The Vote and Do Not Fight campaign, launched by the coalition has spread across all political wards and we want the youth to instill a culture of civility and civility towards the elections.
“We believe that the elections will be held and that is why we are investing our resources and time to ensure that we are credible and that there is no violence,” Odi said.
INEC in Ebonyi said the collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) is a critical aspect of preparations for the 2023 general elections.
Mrs Pauline Onyeka, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ebonyi, told NAN in Abakaliki, that the commission will leave no stone unturned in its determination to conduct credible free and fair elections in the state.
According to him, the dates of February 25 and March 11 of the president, the National Assembly and the Governor as well as the date of the State Assembly are sacred.
Onyeka disclosed that adequate logistical arrangements have been made for a smooth exercise.
He said the commission has been working with stakeholders on election issues to increase the speed of PVC distribution and collection in the state.
REC, however, calls for more effective collaboration between it and various stakeholders to accelerate the speed of collection of PVCs by the owner in full time.
Onyeka said that as part of preparations for the smooth conduct of the election, the commission held an extended interactive meeting of stakeholders in December where he briefed stakeholders on the level of preparation ahead of the scheduled election.
The REC said the commission is ready to ensure that all registered voters in the state collect their cards within the time set by INEC and called for partnership with stakeholders to sensitize the public on the issue.
He said the continuous collection of voter cards was central to the conduct of elections, stressing that anyone without a voter card would not be allowed to vote on election day.
“We have made adequate logistical arrangements to ensure the smooth running of the February and March elections and all we want is for the voters to collect PVCs in the collection exercise which extended for eight days.
“There is no voting on election day without PVC, so every registered voter who has not collected their voter card should use this opportunity.
“It is on record that my ancestors have held meetings with leaders of political parties present in Ebonyi; traditional rulers, the media and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“In these meetings, the commission updates the stakeholders with the schedule of the commission and the schedule of activities and preparations for the general election.
“I have also had a meeting with ICCES members where I expressed my concern over the burning of INEC offices in the state in particular and the South East as a whole by hoodlums.
“As part of the security arrangements to protect our facilities and property, I have requested that security be beefed up in all offices and PVCs collection centers and security agencies have ensured adequate protection for INEC offices and staff,” Onyeka said. .
Mr. Aliyu Garba, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, who spoke to NAN on security arrangements for the election, promised adequate security before, during and after the election while urging the public to report security breaches in their areas.
The police boss, however, asked citizens and critical stakeholders to assist the police in securing INEC facilities domiciled in their respective areas.
The traditional ruler, Eze Charles Mkpuma, in an interview, expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in various parts of the country urging the security agencies to rise to the challenge.
Mkpuma, the Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers of Ebonyi, pledged the support and cooperation of the royal ancestors in the state to mobilize their people to collect PVC.
“The police and other law enforcement agencies must make adequate security preparations to ensure the protection of lives and property of people before, during and after the elections,” Mkpuma said.
Meanwhile, the commission through its chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, recently in a statement, allayed the fear of Nigerians in the possibility of postponing the election due to insecurity stressing that the election will be held as planned.
A cross section of citizens of Awka in Anambra, has blamed the upsurge in the violent attack on the INEC office in failure and overzealous politicians.
Mr. Osita Obi, the National Coordinator of the pressure group, Recover Nigeria Project, told NAN that the burning of INEC facilities and other public facilities is a deliberate political strategy of some politicians who have failed to reduce their opponent’s area of strength.
According to Obi, what these politicians are doing is to create trouble in the strongholds of their opponents so that the election referees will reschedule the elections in those locations.
“When after the general election, the date is fixed for the election in that place, the masses may not want to participate because they fear that there will be an incident of violence,” he said.
Another respondent from Awka, Mr. Tony Ezike, supported Obi’s position saying that politicians were complicit in the attack.
“It has been a long time since the bad eggs started attacking INEC facilities, police stations and other public facilities with the aim of disrupting elections,” he said.
However, Obi maintained that ordinary Nigerians are very ready to go to the polls because the masses really need a change in the management of the country’s resources.
On his part, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra Command said the police are ready for the election.
Mr. George Edeani, Head of Department, (HOD) Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Awka, said the Commission has completed activities to conduct the election.
“Already, non-sensitive materials are in various areas of the District Government, now they are distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in various wards.
“What I told those who registered and were given temporary cards is to make sure they go and collect their PVC because without a permanent voter card, they will not be allowed to vote,” he said.
Edeani said INEC in the state has sensitized community leaders on the need to prevent the culture of vandalizing INEC facilities.
He said that the action was a windfall, because the arsonists and the masses were also affected for a long time.
Edeani, however, prayed to God for a change from those who destroyed INEC and other Public facilities