By Praise Chinecherem
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra state on Wednesday announced relocation of six local government Collation Centres and Registration Area Centres over insecurity, poor/dilapidated structures and bad terrain.
The commission also announced commencement of the distribution and deployment of election officials and materials to various local government areas in the state.
Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mrs. Queen Elizabeth Agwu disclosed this during stakeholders meeting towards the conduct of the 2023 general elections, organized by INEC in Awka, attended by traditional rulers, community leaders, Representatives of political parties, National Orientation Agency, youth organizations among others.
She listed the council areas to include Ihiala, Nnewi South, Onitsha North, Orumba North, Awka North and Awka South.
She stated that the Commission has engaged discussion with the leadership of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and National Association of Road Transport Owners in the state, as she expressed optimism that election officials and materials will not encounter any logistic challenges.
Agwu urged Ministry of Transport to set up measures to prosecute any drivers, Transportation companies or transport unions that fails to deliver or attempts to frustrate the movement of election officials/materials including reverse logistics.
She called on community leaders and traditional institutions, including town union President Generals to assist security agents in their areas to ensure the protection of lives and property, insisting that the effort will instill public confidence for voter turnout in the state.
Stakeholders pledged their readiness to contribute in making the elections fair, free and successfuI.
In his speech, HRH, Igwe Chidi Stephen, Obi of Uga in Augata, said that members of his cabinet have been sensitising the Uga community to ensure they collect their PVCs to enable them vote in the election.
He pleaded that churches and market leaders should also help in sensitising people on collection of their PVCs, just as he assured to see that adequate measures were taken in safe guarding INEC election materials deployed in his community.
In his contribution, the National Vice President Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Hon Okechukwu Oforkansi, disclosed that members have been working tirelessly and educating electorates to ensure they collect their PVCs in order to vote during the elections.
He also charged everybody to be involved towards securing INEC election materials in various communities across the state.
Also speaking, the Coordinator, Catch them young Community Initiative, Nonso Orakwe, revealed that members have been educating youths at grassroots on the importance of collecting their PVCs which is passport to casting their vote in the election.
“The slogan, “Vote-Not-Fight” is being used to educate the youths at the grassroots across the state. Gone are those days when youths were used to snatch ballot boxes and disrupt elections in Anambra state,” he said.
