Amaechi tasks Rivers INEC on impartiality

RIVERS State Governor, Chibuike  Amaechi, has charged the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Gecila Khan to ensure an impartial and transparent electoral process in the upcoming March 28 Presidential and April 11 governorship elections.

Amaechi gave the charged Wednesday when the Resident Electoral Commissioner led a team of top INEC officials in the State on a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Amaechi  said, the problems and challenges of rigging and writing of election results should be nipped in the bud, in order to allow Nigerians legitimately choose credible leaders in the forthcoming elections.

The Governor said: “The history of Nigeria will not be complete without INEC.  The history can be positive or negative, but it depends if officials of INEC like you are ready to write your name in gold in the book of history”.

” We don’t want rigging and writing of election results.  A lot of politicians, I hear, are buying Permanent Voters Card (PVCs).  That is why Nigerians are asking for change, because, Nigerians are looking up to INEC to ensure impartiality and transparent electoral process on March 28, 2015.  Remember, those who try to stop change are usually consumed by change itself.”

Continuing, He said: ” All what Nigerians are asking for is a transparent process, especially, if the card readers you introduce will work without manipulation…it means, you are beginning to transform the process for better, to allow Nigerians, choose their leaders without rigging”.

The Governor added that Nigerians are yearning for good leadership that will tackle the lingering problems of hunger and poverty which has been neglected by greedy and self-serving politicians in the nation’s nascent democracy.

“Nigerians are yearning for good leadership and your responsibility is to promote that good leadership, because, everybody will account for his or her actions.  There is hunger and poverty on the streets and we cannot allow politicians to continue to cart away what belongs to our people”, Amaechi noted.

The governor however, stressed that his administration is ready  to support INEC in the state to achieve credible polls.

“We are calling on INEC to allow us to choose our leaders, and I am sure, if INEC succeeds, we will choose good leaders.  And if there is any support you need, we will not hesitate  to assist,” said Amaechi.