Tuesday, 19th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

INEC not ready for credible poll in Anambra, Ohanaeze alleges

By Lawrence Njoku (Enugu), Nnamdi Akpa (Abakaliki) and Charles Ogugbuaja (Owerri)
01 November 2021   |   3:07 am
Following the rumoured mass resignation of ad hoc staff and personnel from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) slated for the Anambra State governorship election

Hon. Chairman INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

Youths wing raises 13-man security motoring panel
• WIC tasks FG on peaceful election

Following the rumoured mass resignation of ad hoc staff and personnel from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) slated for the Anambra State governorship election, this weekend, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had perfected plans to use a particular political party’s foot soldiers as ad-hoc personnel for the election.

In a statement in Abakaliki, the Secretary General of the Chidi Ibeh-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, accused INEC of being economical with the truth as regards its readiness to conduct a credible election, adding that Anambra would resist any attempt to force a particular candidate on them.

Noting that Ohanaeze Ndigbo had no preferred candidate in the November 6 election, he urged the people to come out in their numbers and vote the candidate of their choice.

IN the same vein, the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has set up a 13-man team to interface with aggrieved groups for a hitch-free election in Anambra.

A statement at the weekend signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Chika Adiele, named the members to include Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, Chairman; Chika Adiele Eweh Onyekachi, Udekigbo Chibuzo, Osita Ozolagba and Wenceslaus Ogbonnia.

Others are Ikenna Odoh, Gift Amadi, Arinze Desmond, Imaga Ekeh Imaga, Chukwudi Dike, Awam Joseph and Orji-Akadiro Chisaokwu.

The statement added: “In line with her determination to ensure a peaceful, credible and transparent governorship election in Anambra, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Youth Wing has inaugurated an Anambra Election Security Monitoring Team.”

Inaugurating the team during the monthly National Executive Committee meeting of the apex Igbo youth body in Awka, Anambra State, the Acting National Leader, Jones Onwuasoanya, urged the team to collaborate with relevant agencies, stakeholders and organisations towards ensuring a peaceful and transparent election.
HOWEVER, the World Igbo Congress (WIC) has called on the Federal Government to de-escalate the tension in the South East and demonstrate a genuine desire to conduct free and fair elections in Anambra State to improve the country’s political and economic development.

In a statement made available to The Guardian, yesterday, the Public Relations Officer, Basil Onwukwe, urged the Federal Government to recognise the increased agitation for equity and fairness in governance and find solutions.

“The youths, who are the highest voting demography, are either incarcerated in various Department of State Services (DSS) cells or correctional centres in Nigeria. 

“The heightened insecurity in a militarised South East region explains it all and is driving the desire to abandon the election in Anambra State. It is worrisome that after the recent coordinated violence to destabilise Anambra, the security agents have not made any credible arrest of the killers. All the desperate plans to pitch Ndigbo against one another has failed,” the congress stated.

It, however, warned against the attempt to replicate the Imo State scenario, as “any decision to enthrone rejected candidates again in Igboland will not be acceptable.” 

0 Comments